Enhanced PDE selection

Abstract

A method and apparatus for managing the selection of location information sources (e.g., position determining equipment sites and handset-based location finding capabilities) to provide location information for a mobile communications unit (e.g., a cellular phone) are disclosed. Embedded within a request for location information on a particular mobile communications unit are one or more specifications regarding the quality of the requested location information. Such specifications is used to determine if any location information sources are able to provide the location information with the desired location information quality. Upon locating a location information source capable of providing the requested location information, the source is invoked to provide the particular location information. Once the location information is provided by the location information source, it is provided to the requesting party.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 071,117, entitled “Enhanced PDE Selection,” filed on Feb. 7, 2002; which is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 796,972, entitled “Location Information Management System and Method for Mobile Communications Unit,” filed on Mar. 1, 2001, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 6,757,545, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention generally relates to the use of position determination equipment (PDE) in relation to a mobile communications system (e.g., a wireless network) and, more particularly, to selecting a PDE according to specifications in a location information request for a mobile communications unit. [0004] Wireless communications networks generally allow for voice and / or data communication between wireless stations...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The present invention provides a method and apparatus for use in a mobile communications location information management system to select at least a first position determining equipment source to provide location information regarding a mobile communications unit such as a cell phone in a mobile communications system. More particularly, the method provides for selecting a position determining equipment (hereinafter “PDE”) source from a plurality of PDE sources that are capable of providing location information. The method comprises the steps of: receiving a request for location information for the desired mobile communications unit, where the request includes at least one specification regarding the location information; selecting one PDE source from the plurality of PDE sources based on the specifications; obtaining location information from that PDE source for the desired mobile communications unit (hereinafter “MCU”); and directing the location information to a location associated with the request (e.g., the requesting parties). The corresponding apparatus of the present invention includes ports for communicating with the requesting party and PDE sources (or a source gateway) and a processor for implementing PDE selection logic as described below. The invention allows a requesting party to request location information that is specifically tailored to its needs, for example, a requesting party which requires highly accurate geographical information, such as 911 services, are able to request location information from the PDE sources with the highest “granularity” (i.e., highest resolution) in the system. In contrast, requesting parties with lower quality needs may be able to request location information that has less geographical granularity, which may be older and have a lower cost to the requesting party. Alternatively, in the case where multiple sources of sufficient information are available, a PDE source may be selected on other bases.

[0015] With regard to the selection process, there is an important distinction as to if or when a general location of the MCU is known. In the case where a location information request contains a general location of the MCU for which information is desired or such general location is otherwise available, the Location Information Management System may be able to select individual sites of a PDE source. In this case, the Location Information Management System may consult a database record using the general location information to determine individual PDE sources able to provide location information for part of or, preferably, all of the general location where the MCU unit is located. Once this is completed, a list of PDE sources able to provide location information for the general location of the MCU is provided. Typically, this list will contain a PDE source identifier that may be used to search another database or relational database table such that the individual characteristics (which may be correlated with QoS parameters) of the PDE sources may be determined. Again, the Location Information Management System may compare the correlated requirements from the location information request to the corresponding parameters within the PDE source records, eliminating those that cannot provide location information within the specified parameters.

Problems solved by technology

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