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 method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request lacking a mobile identifier, comprising:
receiving, at a physical mobile location server, an Internet protocol (IP) location request for a current geographic location of a given mobile device identified by said IP location request only with a public Internet Protocol (IP) address, said IP location request, said IP location request including application specific information;
querying a Network Address Translation (NAT) enabled device to resolve, with an identifier resolver associated with said physical mobile location server, a real mobile identifier of said given mobile device from said public IP address included with said IP location request;
receiving, at said physical mobile location server, a current geographic location of said given mobile device based on said resolved real mobile identifier of said given mobile device and said application specific information included with said IP location request; and
returning said current geographic location of said given mobile device to a requesting device initiating said IP location request.
2. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request lacking a mobile identifier according to claim 1 , wherein:
said current geographic location of said given mobile device is returned to said requesting device via IP protocol.
3. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request lacking a mobile identifier according to claim 1 , wherein:
said requesting device is a physical network server hosting a web application.
4. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request lacking a mobile identifier according to claim 1 , wherein said real mobile identifier comprises:
an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI).
5. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request lacking a mobile identifier according to claim 1 , wherein said real mobile identifier comprises:
a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN).
6. A method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request lacking a mobile identifier, comprising:
receiving, at a physical mobile location server, an Internet protocol (IP) location request for a current geographic location of a given mobile device identified by said IP location request only with a public Internet Protocol (IP) address, said IP location request;
querying a Network Address Translation (NAT) enabled device to resolve, with an identifier resolver associated with said physical mobile location server, a real mobile identifier of said given mobile device from said public IP address included with said IP location request;
receiving, at said physical mobile location server, a current geographic location of said given mobile device based on said resolved real mobile identifier of said given mobile device; and
returning said current geographic location of said given mobile device to a requesting device initiating said IP location request.
7. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request lacking a mobile identifier according to claim 6 , wherein:
said current geographic location of said given mobile device is returned to said requesting device via IP protocol.
8. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request lacking a mobile identifier according to claim 6 , wherein:
said requesting device is a physical network server hosting a web application.
9. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request lacking a mobile identifier according to claim 6 , wherein said real mobile identifier comprises:
an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI).
10. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request lacking a mobile identifier according to claim 6 , wherein said real mobile identifier comprises:
a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN).
11. A method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request lacking a mobile identifier, comprising:
receiving, at a physical mobile location server, an Internet protocol (IP) location request for a current geographic location of a given mobile device identified by said IP location request only with a public Internet Protocol (IP) address, said IP location request, said IP location request including application specific information;
querying a physical HTTP proxy server configured on a network associated with said given mobile device, with an identifier resolver associated with said physical mobile location server, a real mobile identifier of said given mobile device from said public IP address included with said IP location request;
receiving, at said physical mobile location server, a current geographic location of said given mobile device based on said resolved real mobile identifier of said given mobile device and said application specific information included with said IP location request; and
returning said current geographic location of said given mobile device to a requesting device initiating said IP location request.
12. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request lacking a mobile identifier according to claim 11 , wherein:
said current geographic location of said given mobile device is returned to said requesting device via IP protocol.
13. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request lacking a mobile identifier according to claim 11 , wherein:
said requesting device is a physical network server hosting a web application.
14. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request lacking a mobile identifier according to claim 11 , wherein said real mobile identifier comprises:
an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI).
15. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request lacking a mobile identifier according to claim 11 , wherein said real mobile identifier comprises:
a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN).
16. A method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request lacking a mobile identifier, comprising:
receiving, at a physical mobile location server, an Internet protocol (IP) location request for a current geographic location of a given mobile device identified by said IP location request only with a public Internet Protocol (IP) address, said IP location request;
querying a physical HTTP proxy server configured on a network associated with said given mobile device, with an identifier resolver associated with said physical mobile location server, a real mobile identifier of said given mobile device from said public IP address included with said IP location request;
receiving, at said physical mobile location server, a current geographic location of said given mobile device based on said resolved real mobile identifier of said given mobile device; and
returning said current geographic location of said given mobile device to a requesting device initiating said IP location request.
17. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request lacking a mobile identifier according to claim 16 , wherein:
said IP location request includes application specific information; and
said current geographic location of said given mobile device is resolved based both on said resolved real mobile identifier of said given mobile device, and on said application specific information included with said IP location request.
18. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request lacking a mobile identifier according to claim 16 , wherein:
said current geographic location of said given mobile device is returned to said requesting device via IP protocol.
19. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request lacking a mobile identifier according to claim 16 , wherein:
said requesting device is a physical network server hosting a web application.
20. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request lacking a mobile identifier according to claim 16 , wherein said real mobile identifier comprises:
an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI).
21. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request lacking a mobile identifier according to claim 16 , wherein said real mobile identifier comprises:
a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN).