Location services
A wireless communications network for providing location services comprising: a network element comprising storage means for storing network information of mobile stations, said network information including location information relating to the location of a mobile station and a subscriber identity; a passive location data storage entity for storing passive location data and subscriber identities; and means for transferring the location information and subscriber identity from the network element to the passive location data storage entity whereby the location information constitutes said passive location data for providing location services to a location services client.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a storer to store network information of mobile stations, said network information including location information relating to a location of a mobile station and a subscriber identity,
wherein the apparatus is configured to push location information and subscriber identity from a visitor location register to a passive location data storage entity, and
wherein the location information comprises passive location data.
2. A network element comprising the apparatus of claim 1 .
3. A system, comprising:
a network element according to claim 2 ; and
a passive location data storage entity for storing passive location data and subscriber identities;
wherein the network element is configured to transfer the location information and subscriber identity to the passive location data storage entity, wherein the location information comprises said passive location data regarding provision of location services to a location services client.
4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising:
a location node, wherein said location node comprises the passive location data storage entity.
5. The system of claim 3 , further comprising:
a location node, wherein the passive location data storage entity is connected to said location node.
6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the network element comprises a mobile switching center and the visitor location register.
7. The system of claim 3 , wherein the network element is a serving general packet radio service support node.
8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the location information is an identity of the mobile switching center.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the location information is an identity of the serving general packet radio service support node.
10. The system of claim 3 , wherein the location information is a cell identity associated with the mobile station.
11. The system of claim 3 , wherein the location information is a location area identity associated with the mobile station.
12. The system of claim 3 , wherein the network element comprises a filter configured to extract the location information from the network information.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the filter is configured to extract the location information related to all subscribers from the network information.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the filter is configured to extract the location information related to particular subscribers from the network information.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the filter is configured to extract the location information related to a particular location from the network information.
16. A method, comprising:
storing at a network element network information of mobile stations, said network information including location information relating to the location of a mobile station and a subscriber identity; and
pushing the location information and subscriber identity from the network element to a passive location data storage entity, wherein the pushing the location information comprises pushing the location information from a visitor location register.
17. A method as claimed in claim 16 , further comprising:
receiving a geographical location request from the location services client;
determining whether the passive location data can satisfy the geographical location request; and,
when the passive location data can satisfy the request, translating the passive location data to the geographical location and sending the geographical location to the location services client.
18. A method as claimed in claim 16 , further comprising:
receiving a request for geographical location when an event occurs from the location services client;
monitoring the passive location data for the event;
when the event occurs, determining whether the passive location data can satisfy the geographical location request; and,
when the passive location data can satisfy the request, translating the passive location data to the geographical location and sending the geographical location to the location services client.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the location information is held as passive location data regarding provision of location services to a location services client.
20. A method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the network element comprises a mobile switching center and the visitor location register.
21. A method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the network element is a serving general packet radio service support node.
22. A method as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the location information is an identity of the mobile switching center.
23. A method as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the location information is an identity of the serving general packet radio service support node.
24. A method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the location information is a cell identity associated with the mobile station.
25. A method claimed in claim 19 , wherein the location information is a location area identity associated with the mobile station.
26. A method as claimed in claim 19 , further comprising:
filtering the network information to extract the location information.
27. A method as claimed in claim 26 , wherein the filtering comprises extracting the location information related to all subscribers from the network information.
28. A method as claimed in claim 26 , wherein the filtering comprises extracting the location information related to particular subscribers from the network information.
29. A method as claimed in claim 26 , wherein the filtering comprises extracting the location information related to a particular location from the network information.
30. A method as claimed in claim 22 , further comprising:
receiving a location request from the location services client;
determining the identity of the mobile switching center from the passive location data;
requesting the location of the mobile station from the determined mobile switching center; and
providing the location of the mobile station to the location services client.
31. A method as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the location services client is an emergency call center, and the location request is an emergency call location request.
32. A method as claimed in claim 23 , further comprising:
receiving a location request from the location services client;
determining the identity of the serving general packet radio service support node from the passive location data;
requesting the location of the mobile station from the serving general packet radio service support node; and
providing the location of the mobile station to the location services client.
33. An apparatus, comprising:
storer means for storing network information of mobile stations, said network information including location information relating to a location of a mobile station and a subscriber identity; and
pushing means for pushing location information and subscriber identity to a passive location data storage entity, wherein the location information comprises location data, wherein the pushing the location information comprises pushing the location information from a visitor location register.
34. An apparatus, comprising:
a receiver configured to receive location information and a subscriber identity pushed from an element in a network, wherein the element in the network comprises a visitor location register;
memory configured to store the location information and the subscriber identity, wherein the location information comprises passive location data regarding provision of location services to a location services client; and
a manager configured to manage said location information and said subscriber identity.
35. The apparatus of claim 34 , wherein the apparatus is a gateway mobile location center.
36. A method, comprising:
receiving location information and a subscriber identity pushed from an element in a network, wherein the element in the network comprises a visitor location register;
storing the location information and the subscriber identity, wherein the location information comprises passive location data regarding provision of location services to a location services client; and
managing said location information and said subscriber identity.
37. An apparatus, comprising:
a receiver configured to receive location information and a subscriber identity pushed from an element in a network, wherein the element in the network comprises a visitor location register;
memory configured to store the location information and the subscriber identity, wherein the location information comprises passive location data regarding provision of location services to a location services client;
a further receiver configured to receive a request for location services for a location services client; and
a responder configured to respond to said request based on said stored location information.
38. A method, comprising:
receiving location information and a subscriber identity pushed from an element in a network, wherein the element in the network comprises a visitor location register;
storing the location information and the subscriber identity, wherein the location information comprises passive location data regarding provision of location services to a location services client;
thereafter receiving a request for location services for a location services client; and
responding to said request based on said stored location information.
39. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed on a computer, perform a process, the process comprising: storing at a network element network information of mobile stations, said network information including location information relating to the location of a mobile station and a subscriber identity; and pushing the location information and subscriber identity from the network element to a passive location data storage entity, wherein the pushing the location information comprises pushing the location information from a visitor location register.