Lawful intercept service

Abstract

A system and method is provided for monitoring the activities and / or locations of wireless units in a wireless network independent of location-based service preferences of those wireless units. That is, a system and method is provided that allows an authorized requester override location-based service preferences (e.g., privacy settings) that may be set for a wireless unit. In this regard, an authorized entity may be able to effectively locate and / or monitor the activities of a wireless unit associated with an individual of interest. Furthermore, if proper authorization exists, such monitoring may be done surreptitiously without the wireless unit user's knowledge and / or consent. For example, in some instances, law enforcement agencies may be authorized to monitor call traffic and / or the location of persons utilizing wireless units.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 802,323, entitled “Lawful Intercept Service,” filed Mar. 16, 2004, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 456,656, filed Mar. 18, 2003, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates in general to location monitoring of wireless communication devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to location monitoring of a wireless communications device irrespective of privacy settings associated with the device and / or without notification of the device. Such functionality may have applications, for example, for law enforcement and homeland security purposes. [0003] Wireless communications networks generally allow for voice and / or data communications between wireless units, e.g., wireless telephones (analog, digital, cellular, and PCS), pagers, or data term...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The ability to monitor the location of a wireless unit free of any privacy settings associated with the wireless unit and / or utilizing one or more location finding technologies across one or more networks may in some instances be desirable. For example, in emergency situations it may be desirable to locate wireless units irrespective of any location-finding preferences of the wireless units and independent of the particular network environments of those units. Likewise, owners of wireless units may desire to monitor the activities of those wireless units independent of preferences of the user of the wireless unit. Moreover, in some instances, law enforcement agencies may be authorized to monitor persons utilizing wireless units. Accordingly, by being able to override location-finding preferences that may be set for wireless units and by being able to locate units in a variety of network environments, an authorized entity may be able to effectively locate and / or monitor the activities of wireless units associated with targeted individuals. Furthermore, if proper authorization exists, such monitoring may be done surreptitiously without the wireless unit user's knowledge and / or consent.

[0014] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for monitoring the location of a wireless unit a wireless network free of any location-finding preferences of the wireless unit and irrespective of that wireless unit passing from a first carrier network to a second carrier network. That is, the method provides a system for aggregating information from separate carrier networks such that monitoring may be effectuated over an enhanced area with improved inclusiveness of subscribers of different carriers, and / or with an enhanced accuracy. The method includes providing a system in communication with a first wireless carrier network having a first subscriber set and a second carrier network having a second subscriber set, wherein the system is operative to provide location information for each of the carrier networks. A location information inquiry for a wireless unit of interest may be received and location information may then be procured irrespective of the carrier network currently servicing the wireless unit and provided to a location associated with the request. As will be appreciated, the location request may include, in addition to wireless unit of interest information, specifications regarding the desired location information, for example, indicating how recent or how accurate the information should be.

[0015] The first and second carrier networks may employ different location finding technologies, e.g., GPS, AOA, TDOA, and cell / sector technologies. In this regard, a location request from the requesting entity may result in prompting one or more different location information sources to obtain the location information. If multiple location information sources are available to make a location determination regarding a wireless station the method may include receiving a first location input from a first location information source and receiving a second location input from a second location information source. Furthermore, this first and second information may be combined to provide combined location information having an enhanced accuracy.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for obtaining location information for a wireless unit of interest based on the location of that wireless unit relative to one or more zones is provided. The method includes identifying a wireless unit of interest and establishing at least one zone of interest associated with that wireless unit. Location information for the wireless unit is obtained from at least one location information source associated with the wireless network. This may be performed on a period basis or on another schedule based on the location of the wireless unit of interest relative to the zone of interest. In any case, the location information is utilized to monitor a location of the wireless unit relative to the zone of interest. Upon the uncertainty of the location of the wireless unit of interest overlapping with one of the zones of interest, a third party may be notified. Likewise, when an uncertainty associated with the area of the wireless unit overlaps one or more zones of interest, a second monitoring schedule may be implemented: For instance, the rate and / or accuracy of the location monitoring may be increased.

Problems solved by technology

Furthermore, if proper authorization exists, such monitoring may be done surreptitiously without the wireless unit user's knowledge and / or consent.

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