User plane location services over session initiation protocol (SIP)
View Patent ↗A method and mechanism to allow a location server to initiate a user plane location service (e.g., SUPL defined by OMA) procedure to a user plane enabled device via Instant Messaging, or alternatively, via an existing SIP session if a multimedia session is already established. The location request is signaled to the user plane enabled device via a SIP INFO message. The location request uses SIP messaging to overcome firewall and other network security issues. Location using SUPL over SIP may be provided about a caller making an E911 emergency call. An Instant Message may be sent to the user plane enabled device, e.g., a VoIP wireless phone.
1. A method for obtaining a location of a subscriber, comprising:
signaling, at a location server, an instant message location request to a target device via an instant message server; and
retrieving, via a user plane location service session, location information associated with said target device.
2. A method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 1 , further comprising:
initiating said user plane location service session via Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) protocol.
3. The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 1 , wherein:
said instant message location request is signaled to said target device via a SIP INFO message.
4. The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 1 , wherein:
using SIP messaging, for said instant message location request, as a transport message of said user plane location service procedure to overcome an issue otherwise introduced by network security.
5. The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 4 , wherein:
said issue otherwise introduced by network security is a firewall.
6. The method for obtaining a location of a caller according to claim 1 , wherein:
a call relating to said caller is an emergency call.
7. The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 1 , wherein:
said target device is a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone.
8. The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 7 , wherein:
said VoIP phone is a wireless VoIP phone.
9. The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 1 , wherein:
said user plane location service session complies with a secure user plane for location (SUPL) standard defined by Open Mobile Alliance (OMA).