Providing an alert for an approach violation

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method for providing an alert for an approach violation by a Positioning Alert Service Function device (112), where the method includes providing (202) to a Location Services Server (116) a request for a location of a first target device, receiving (204) a location of the first target device, providing (212) a request for a location of a second device, and receiving (214), a location of the second target device The method also includes determining (216) that a distance between the first location and the second location is less than a predefined distance associated with a personal protection order and providing (218), to a Mediation and Delivery Function (114) a Lawful Access Location Services Alert that comprises the first location of the first target device and the distance between the first location and the second location.

Description

[0001] PROVIDING AN ALERT FOR AN APPROACH VIOLATION

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates to methods for providing an alert for an approach violation performed by a Positioning Alert Service Function. The disclosure also relates to a network node, a computer program and a carrier containing the computer program.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Lawful Access Location Services (LALS) provides lawful access to the target's location. LALS is based on the Location Services (LCS) capabilities defined in Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Technical Specification (TS) 23.271, TS 23.273 V.17.8.0 (2023-04) and in Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) Mobile Location Protocol (MLP). See for example: 3GPP TS 33.127 V18.5.0 (2023-03).

[0006] Products and services have been developed that provide alerts when personal protection orders, restraining orders, and other legal prohibitions on one person from approaching another person are violated. One such solution involves the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) monitoring technology. GPS trackers can be placed on the individual under the personal protection order to ensure they do not enter predefined restricted areas, such as the home or workplace of the person they are restrained from contacting. Mobile networks facilitate real-time data transmission, allowing law enforcement or monitoring services to receive instant alerts if the restrained individual breaches their geographical limits. Additionally, this technology can be integrated with mobile devices that victims can use to alert authorities when they determine that the person under the court-imposed ban approach them.

[0007] EP207035B1 refers to a method for legal interception of a transmission through a land based network to or from mobile station based at least in part on the satisfaction of spatial criteria whereby a geographic area is identified and the location of one or more mobile stations is determined.

[0008] SUMMARY

[0009] An object of the invention is to enable an improvement in identifying and reporting breaches of personal protection orders using the Lawful Interception architecture. The present disclosure provides a method for providing an alert for an approach violation performed by a Positioning Alert Service Function (PASF) device, where the method includes providing to a Location Services (LCS) Server a first request for a location of a first target device. The method includes receiving, a first location of the first target device, providing to the LCS Server a second request for a location of a second target device, and receiving, a second location of the second target device. The method also includes determining that a distance between the first location and the second location is less than a predefined distance associated with a personal protection order associated with the first target device and the second target device and providing, to a Mediation and Delivery Function (MDF) a Lawful Access Location Services (LALS) Alert that comprises the first location of the first target device, and the distance between the first location and the second location.

[0010] In an embodiment, the method includes providing, to the MDF, in response to receiving the first location of the first target device, a first LALS Report comprising the first location of the first target device.

[0011] In an embodiment, the LALS Alert comprises the first LALS Report, a distance between the first location and the second location and a second LALS Report comprising the location of the second target device.

[0012] In an embodiment, the method includes repeating the providing the first request and the second request at predefined intervals.

[0013] In an embodiment, the method includes storing a most recent first location of the first target device in memory.

[0014] In an embodiment, the predefined interval is based on a previous distance between the first target device and the second target device.

[0015] In an embodiment, the predefined interval decreases in duration in response to a distance between the first target device and the second target device shortening.

[0016] In an embodiment, the determining that the distance between the first location and the second location is less than the predefined distance is in response to determining that the second target device is associated with the personal protection order.

[0017] In an embodiment, the personal protection order is a legal prohibition applying to a first subscriber associated with the first target device. In an embodiment, the first request and the second request are Mobile Terminating Location Requests.

[0018] In an embodiment, a network node is provided that implements a PASF device that is configured to provide an alert for an approach violation, the network node comprising a process configured to cause the network node to provide to a Location Services (LCS) Server a first request for a location of a first target device. The processor also causes the network node to receive a first location of the first target device, providing to the LCS Server a second request for a location of a second target device, and receiving, a second location of the second target device. The processor also causes the network node to determine that a distance between the first location and the second location is less than a predefined distance associated with a personal protection order associated with the first target device and the second target device and providing, to a Mediation and Delivery Function (MDF) a Lawful Access Location Services (LALS) Alert that comprises the first location of the first target device, and the distance between the first location and the second location.

[0019] In an embodiment, a computer program is provided that includes instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the processor to carry out the above methods. A carrier containing the computer program is also provided, where the carrier is one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer readable storage medium.

[0020] An advantage provided by the techniques in the present disclosures is that the use of Lawful Interception (LI) Interception Management Systems (LI-IMS) provide high reliability and high security. Using Fifth Generation (5G) positioning precision is an improvement over Global Positioning System (GPS) accuracy and further, no additional infrastructure is required. Using the LI-IMS system also ensures the privacy rights of the innocent party, where the second target's position is only communicated to the authority when there is a violation of the approach ban and a real risk to the security and safety of the subscriber associated with the second target. These methods can also result in a reduction of the signaling over the Handover Interface 2 for Intercept Related Information (IRI). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The accompanying drawing figures incorporated in and forming a part of this specification illustrate several aspects of the disclosure, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

[0022] Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary Lawful Interception (LI) Architecture for a Positioning Alert Service Function (PASF) device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0023] Figure 2 illustrates a message sequence chart for a method for providing an alert for an approach violation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0024] Figure 3 illustrates a flow chart of a method for providing a Lawful Access Location Services (LALS) Report for a first target device;

[0025] Figure 4 illustrates a flow chart of a method for providing a LALS Alert for an approach violation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0026] Figure 5 illustrates one example of a cellular communications system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0027] Figure 6 is a schematic block diagram of network node according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0028] Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram that illustrates a virtualized embodiment of the network node of Figure 6 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0029] Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram of the network node of Figure 6 according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0030] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The embodiments set forth below represent information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and illustrate the best mode of practicing the embodiments. Upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawing figures, those skilled in the art will understand the concepts of the disclosure and will recognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the disclosure.

[0032] Network Node: As used herein, a "network node" is any type of node in a Communication Service Provider network or any node that implements a core network function. Some examples of a core network node include, e.g., a Lawful Interception (LI) Location Services (LCS) client, LCS server, Mediation and Delivery Function (MF / DF2), Mobility Management Entity (MME), a Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW), a Service Capability Exposure Function (SCEF), a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), or the like. Some other examples of a network node include a node implementing a Positioning Alert Service Function (PASF), an Access and Mobility Function (AMF), a User Plane Function (UPF), a Session Management Function (SMF), an Authentication Server Function (AUSF), a Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF), a Network Exposure Function (NEF), a Network Function (NF) Repository Function (NRF), a Policy Control Function (PCF), a Unified Data Management (UDM), or the like.

[0033] Note that the description given herein focuses on a 3GPP cellular communications system and, as such, 3GPP terminology or terminology similar to 3GPP terminology is oftentimes used. However, the concepts disclosed herein are not limited to a 3GPP system.

[0034] Note that, in the description herein, reference may be made to the term "cell"; however, particularly with respect to 5G NR concepts, beams may be used instead of cells and, as such, it is important to note that the concepts described herein are equally applicable to both cells and beams.

[0035] One of the main limitations of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) (for civil use) as described in the background is the accuracy of the localization itself. Despite technological advances, the accuracy of geolocation can vary based on various factors, such as the availability of GPS signal, the presence of physical obstacles. This means that if the GPS is the only technology used the location provided by the device may not always be available or accurate enough.

[0036] Yet another limitation of GPS in this kind of applications is that it can be jammed. This was difficult in the past, but it is becoming much easier due to technology advancements. A potential offender may get access to a GPS jammer on purpose. Cellular signals are instead much more difficult to jam, due to higher power and the availability of alternative cells and / or frequency bands.

[0037] Another aspect to consider concerns the security of GPS geolocation data. Mobile devices can be vulnerable to cyber-attacks that aim to steal or manipulate geolocation data. For example, the stalker could manipulate the device's location. Finally, it is important to underline that using geolocation can lead to high battery consumption. Geolocation technology requires a constant connection to GPS satellites or other location networks, which can affect the battery life of a device.

[0038] The present disclosure provides a method for providing an alert for an approach violation performed by a Positioning Alert Service Function (PASF) device, where the method includes providing to a Location Services (LCS) Server a first request for a location of a first target device. The method includes receiving, a first location of the first target device, providing to the LCS Server a second request for a location of a second target device, and receiving, a second location of the second target device. The method also includes determining that a distance between the first location and the second location is less than a predefined distance associated with a personal protection order associated with the first target device and the second target device and providing, to a Mediation and Delivery Function (MDF) a Lawful Access Location Services (LALS) Alert that comprises the first location of the first target device, and the distance between the first location and the second location.

[0039] An advantage provided by the techniques in the present disclosures is that the use of Lawful Interception (LI) Interception Management Systems (LI-IMS) provide high reliability and high security. Using Fifth Generation (5G) positioning precision is an improvement over Global Positioning System (GPS) accuracy and further, no additional infrastructure is required. Using the LI-IMS system also ensures the privacy rights of the innocent party, where the second target's position is only communicated to the authority when there is a violation of the approach ban and a real risk to the security and safety of the subscriber associated with the second target. These methods can also result in a reduction of the signaling over the Handover Interface 2 for Intercept Related Information (IRI).

[0040] The LI system as used herein is not directly related to classic LI functionalities, but the communication service provider can offer a new LI monitoring service that supports law against stalking and support personal protection orders and other legal prohibitions on people approaching other people. Anti-feminicide laws protect women by providing legal enforcement to prevent stalkers and other potential threats from approaching potential victims. By enforcing these personal protection orders, restraining orders, and / or approach bans, the law enforcement authorities can prevent other more serious crimes from occurring. The new LI positioning service introduces a real-time distance evaluation algorithm to alert the agency when the stalker is close to the potential victim. The methods disclosed herein could be extended to other cases where there is a need to know that one User equipment (UE) is approaching another UE.

[0041] In an embodiment, the methods disclosed herein use the LI-IMS to locate the victim and the stalker through a more precise and secure 4G / 5G / 6G network localization. The victim is asked to have their own mobile phone always connected to the network, while the stalker is obliged to wear an electronic bracelet equipped with a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card. In other embodiments, the system could use the stalker's UE or mobile device to track the location of the stalker.

[0042] A correlation mechanism between two warrants is introduced to monitor the positions and to evaluate, in real time, the distance between the targets (e.g., the devices associated with the two parties of the personal protection order.

[0043] A threshold on the distance can be set to highlight when the approach ban is going to be violated. The novelty of the techniques disclosed herein is to use the LI- IMS monitoring system to provide accurate positioning based both on GPS, 4G / 5G / 6G cell-based and 5G indoor technology. The availability of both GPS, 4G / 5G / 6G cellbased, and 5G indoor positions allows to have at any given moment the most precise position depending on the position of the victim / stalker (inside / outside) or the type of network coverage (4G / 5G / 6G). Moreover, cell-based geolocation service is assured even when the GPS is not available.

[0044] The network scenario in which this present disclosure is placed foresees 4G / 5G / 6G nodes (i.e., AMF and / or SMF in a 5G network) and a Location Services node compliant to the protocol Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) Mobile Location Protocol (MLP) (ver. 3.2.0), to get accurate positioning.

[0045] Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary Lawful Interception (LI) Architecture for a Positioning Alert Service Function (PASF) device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0046] Figure 1 shows that in a communication service provider (CSP) 102, there can be different trust domains. Many cloud systems are typically built on the assumption that there is one root administrator who has absolute dominion over all software and resources in a system, but that approach is not compatible with LI, unless they are a member of the LI administration team that controls the rest of the network. The incompatibility is due to the legal requirements of LI and desirability of maintaining privacy. While LI is always under the control of the CSP 102, most general network administration and support personnel will not be authorized to have control, knowledge, or visibility of LI. Therefore, it is necessary to be able to separate administration of LI from other network functions or processes. Accordingly, general network operations can occur in Trust Domain (TD)-A 106, including the Element of Interception (ELI) otherwise known as the Point of Interception (118) that intercepts data including Intercept Related Information (IRI) and Content of Communication (CC) from nodes in the TD-A 106, while the bulk of the LI infrastructure has a separate TD-B 108, which includes the Administration Function (ADMF) 110, Location Services (LCS) server 116, Mediation and Delivery Function (MDF) 114, and the Positioning Alert Service Function (PASF) device 112, which can either be a stand-alone service, or be part of the ADMF 110. The law enforcement agency (LEA) 104 can receive data, via the Law Enforcement Monitoring Facility (LEMF) 120 that receives data from the CSP 102 via the MDF 114.

[0047] The new PASF device 112 receives from ADMF 110 data about the two targets (e.g., devices associated with parties to personal protection order) that should be located and tracked and connects to the LCS server 116 requesting positioning data for the two targets. The new service shall compare the received positions to evaluate if the distance between them is less than a predefined threshold. If this is the case, a new message, LALS Alert, is sent to the LEMF 120 as described in Figure 2.

[0048] The new PASF device 112 periodically requests position for target A, that is the "stalker". Once the target A position is received, a LALS Report is built by MDF 114 and sent to LEMF 120. Moreover, the PASF device 112 stores target A position in a non- persistent storage so that it could be used after to evaluate its distance from target B that is the victim. Periodically the PASF device 112 requests position for target B and once received, the new service gets the target A position from the non-persistent storage and determines whether the distance between the two positions is less than a predefined threshold. If this is the case, a new message, LALS Alert, is built by MDF and is sent to LEMF.

[0049] Figure 2 illustrates a message sequence chart for a method for providing an alert for an approach violation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The steps in Figure 2 that are optional are shown in dashed lines. Additionally, while steps are shown in one order in Figure 2, in other embodiments, the method can be performed in a different order. For example, the PASF device 112 requests and receives the location of the first target (Target A, e.g., the stalker) at steps 202 and 204 before receiving the location of the second target (Target B, e.g., the victim) at steps 212 and 214, in other embodiments the location of the second target can be received first.

[0050] At step 202, the PASF device 112 can provide to the LCS server 116 a first request for a location of the first target device. The identity of the first target device can be provided to the LCS server 116 by the PASF device 112 and for example could be an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). The IMSI can be configured to the PASF device 112 by the ADMF 110, based on a warrant identifying the first target.

[0051] In an embodiment, the first request sent to the LCS server 116 in step 202 can be a Mobile Terminating Location Request.

[0052] At step 204, the LCS server 116 provides to the PASF device 112, the first location of the first target device. The PASF device 112 may optionally provide to the MDF 114 a LALS Report that includes the location of the first target at step 206, and the MDF 114 can then forward that LALS Report to the LEMF 120 at step 208. The LALS Report, as defined in the ETSI TS 133 128 V17.11.0 (2024-01), can include the location of the first target, as well as a timestamp indicating the time associated with the location. At step 210, the PASF device 112 may also optionally store the first target location in non-persistent storage. In an embodiment, the PASF device 112 stores the latest location of the first target in memory, and then purges the location when a new location is received from the LCS server 116.

[0053] At step 212, the PASF device 112 sends a request for location for the second target to the LCS server 116. As above, the second request sent to the LCS server 116 in step 212 can be a Mobile Terminating Location Request. At step 214, the LCS server 116 provides the second location of the second target device to the PASF device 112, and at step 216, the PASF device evaluates the distance between the first location of the first target device and the second location of the second target device. Various techniques can be used to determine the distance between the locations, but in one exemplary embodiment, the PASF device 112 can employ the Haversine formula that calculates the shortest distance between two points on a sphere using their latitudes and longitudes measured along the surface.

[0054] This process, of steps 202-216 can be repeated (via step 222) at predefined intervals. The entire process (e.g., step 222) can be repeated at predefined intervals, or alternatively the intervals can be different for both the first target and the second target. In an embodiment, the intervals can vary based on the distance between the targets. For example, as the distance decreases, the interval between location requests to the LCS server 116 can reduce, as the PASF device 112 attempts to determine with greater precision when the distance between the first target and second target is less than a predefined distance and the personal protection order is violated.

[0055] If, at step 216, the distance between the first target and the second target is less than a predefined distance (associated with the personal protection order and defined by the warrant(s) for the first and second targets), the PASF device 112 can send, via the HI2 interface, a LALS Alert at step 218 to the MDF 114 which can forward it to the LEMF 120 at step 220. The LALS Alert contains a first LALS Report related to position of the first target, the distance between the two targets and optionally the second LALS Report related to the position of the second target.

[0056] The proposed techniques of sending the LALS Alert that comprises the LALS Report for the second target only when the personal protection order is violated, ensures the victim privacy protection as the victim's position will be communicated to the authority only when the distance between the two people is below a threshold. So, in no other case the victim position information will be reported to the authority. At the same time, the amount of signaling over the HI2 interface is reduced.

[0057] Figure 3 illustrates a flow chart of a method for providing a Lawful Access Location Services (LALS) Report for a first target device;

[0058] In Figure 3, after the first location for the first target is received from the LCS server at step 204, the PASF device 112 performs a check at 302, to see if there is a warrant for the first target with a flag "positioningAlertOn". If that flag is set "on" in the warrant, then the PASF device stores the location of the first target at step 210. Whether the flag is set on or off, at the next step, the PASF device 112 generates a LALS Report at step 206 and is sent to the LEMF 120 via the MDF 114. In Figure 4, after the second location for the second target is received from the LCS server at step 214, the PASF device 112 determines at step 402 whether the first and second target are connected.

[0059] The PASF device 112 periodically requests position for the second target; upon the reception of the second target position at step 214, the PASF device 112 verifies if the second target is connected with the first target. If there is no connection, the PASF device generates a LALS Report at step 404.

[0060] In case of connection between the second target and the first target, the first target position is retrieved from the non-persistent storage at step 406 and the distance between the two positions is evaluated and compared with a predefined threshold at step 216. In case the distance is less than the threshold a new message LALS Alert is generated at step 218 and sent to the LEMF 120 via the MDF 114.

[0061] Figure 5 illustrates one example of a cellular communications system 500 in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. In the embodiments described herein, the cellular communications system 500 is a 5G system (5GS) including a Next Generation RAN (NG-RAN) and a 5G Core (5GC) or an Evolved Packet System (EPS) including an Evolved Universal Terrestrial RAN (E-UTRAN) and an Evolved Packet Core (EPC). In this example, the RAN includes base stations 502-1 and 502-2, which in the 5GS include NR base stations (gNBs) and optionally next generation eNBs (ng-eNBs) (e.g., LTE RAN nodes connected to the 5GC) and in the EPS include eNBs, controlling corresponding (macro) cells 504-1 and 504-2. The base stations 502- 1 and 502-2 are generally referred to herein collectively as base stations 502 and individually as base station 502. Likewise, the (macro) cells 504-1 and 504-2 are generally referred to herein collectively as (macro) cells 504 and individually as (macro) cell 504. The RAN may also include a number of low power nodes 506-1 through 506-4 controlling corresponding small cells 508-1 through 508-4. The low power nodes 506-1 through 506-4 can be small base stations (such as pico or femto base stations) or RRHs, or the like. Notably, while not illustrated, one or more of the small cells 508-1 through 508-4 may alternatively be provided by the base stations 502. The low power nodes 506-1 through 506-4 are generally referred to herein collectively as low power nodes 506 and individually as low power node 506. Likewise, the small cells 508-1 through 508-4 are generally referred to herein collectively as small cells 508 and individually as small cell 508. The cellular communications system 500 also includes a core network 510, which in the 5G System (5GS) is referred to as the 5GC. The base stations 502 (and optionally the low power nodes 506) are connected to the core network 510.

[0062] The core network 510 can include the network node 600 that implements the PASF device 112 that are disclosed herein, and provide the functionality described herein of the PASF device 112.

[0063] The base stations 502 and the low power nodes 506 provide service to wireless communication devices 512-1 through 512-5 in the corresponding cells 504 and 508. The wireless communication devices 512-1 through 512-5 are generally referred to herein collectively as wireless communication devices 512 and individually as wireless communication device 512. In the following description, the wireless communication devices 512 are oftentimes UEs, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In an example the first target device is a wireless communication device, such as one of the wireless communication devices 512-1 to 512-5. In the example, the second target device is a wireless communication device, such as one of the wireless communication devices 512-1 to 512-5 different to the first target device.

[0064] Figure 6 is a schematic block diagram of a network node 600 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Optional features are represented by dashed boxes. The network node 600 may be, for example, a network node that implements all or part of the functionality PASF device 112 as described herein. As illustrated, the network node 600 includes a control system 602 that includes one or more processors 604 (e.g., Central Processing Units (CPUs), Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), and / or the like), memory / computer readable storage medium (CRSM) 606, and a network interface 608. The one or more processors 604 are also referred to herein as processing circuitry.

[0065] The one or more processors 604 operate to provide one or more functions of a radio access node 600 as described herein. In some embodiments, the function(s) are implemented in one or more computer programs 610 that are stored, e.g., in the memory 606 and executed by the one or more processors 604.

[0066] Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram that illustrates an embodiment of the network node 600 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. This discussion is equally applicable to other types of network nodes. Further, other types of network nodes may have similar architectures. Again, optional features are represented by dashed boxes. The network node 600 may include the control system 602, as described above. The network node 600 includes one or more processing nodes 700 coupled to or included as part of a network(s) 702. The processing node(s) 700 are arranged to cause the network node 600 to carry out the steps 202 to 220 in accordance with any of the described embodiments for steps 202 to 220. If present, the control system 602 is connected to the processing node(s) 700 via the network 702. Each processing node 700 includes one or more processors 704 (e.g., CPUs, ASICs, FPGAs, and / or the like), memory 706 (e.g., computer readable storage medium), and a network interface 708.

[0067] In this example, functions 710 of the network node 600 described herein are implemented at the one or more processing nodes 700 or distributed across the one or more processing nodes 700 and the control system 602 in any desired manner. In some particular embodiments, some or all of the functions 710 of the network node 600 described herein are implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines implemented in a virtual environment(s) hosted by the processing node(s) 700. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, additional signaling or communication between the processing node(s) 700 and the control system 602 is used in order to carry out at least some of the desired functions 710.

[0068] In some embodiments, a computer program including instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to carry out the functionality of network node 600 or a node (e.g., a processing node 700) implementing one or more of the functions 710 of the network node 600 in an environment according to any of the embodiments described herein is provided. In some embodiments, a carrier comprising the aforementioned computer program product is provided. The carrier is one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer readable storage medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer readable medium such as memory).

[0069] Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram of the network node 600 according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. The network node 600 includes one or more modules of the PASF device 112 which is implemented in software. The module(s) PASF device 112 provides the functionality of the network node 600 described herein. This discussion is equally applicable to the processing node 700 of Figure 7 where the module PASF device 112 may be implemented at one of the processing nodes 700 or distributed across multiple processing nodes 700 and / or distributed across the processing node(s) 700 and the control system 602.

[0070] Any appropriate steps, methods, features, functions, or benefits disclosed herein may be performed through one or more functional units or modules of one or more virtual apparatuses. Each virtual apparatus may comprise a number of these functional units. These functional units may be implemented via processing circuitry, which may include one or more microprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware, which may include Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), special-purpose digital logic, and the like. The processing circuitry may be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which may include one or several types of memory such as Read Only Memory (ROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, etc. Program code stored in memory includes program instructions for executing one or more telecommunications and / or data communications protocols as well as instructions for carrying out one or more of the techniques described herein. In some implementations, the processing circuitry may be used to cause the respective functional unit to perform corresponding functions according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0071] While processes in the figures may show a particular order of operations performed by certain embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be understood that such order is exemplary (e.g., alternative embodiments may perform the operations in a different order, combine certain operations, overlap certain operations, etc.).

[0072] Those skilled in the art will recognize improvements and modifications to the embodiments of the present disclosure. All such improvements and modifications are considered within the scope of the concepts disclosed herein.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method for providing an alert for an approach violation performed by Positioning Alert Service Function device (112), the method comprising: providing (202) to a Location Services, LCS, Server (116) a first request for a location of a first target device; receiving (204), a first location of the first target device; providing (212) to the LCS Server (116) a second request for a location of a second target device; receiving (214), a second location of the second target device; determining (216) that a distance between the first location and the second location is less than a predefined distance associated with a personal protection order associated with the first target device and the second target device; and providing (218), to a Mediation and Delivery Function, MDF, (114) a Lawful Access Location Services, LALS, Alert that comprises the first location of the first target device, and the distance between the first location and the second location.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing (206), to the MDF (114), in response to receiving the first location of the first target device, a first LALS Report comprising the first location of the first target device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the LALS Alert comprises the first LALS Report, a distance between the first location and the second location and a second LALS Report comprising the second location of the second target device.

4. The method of any of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: repeating (222) the providing the first request and the second request at predefined intervals.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: storing (210) a most recent first location of the first target device in memory.

6. The method of any of claims 4 to 5, wherein the predefined interval is based on a previous distance between the first target device and the second target device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the predefined interval decreases in duration in response to a distance between the first target device and the second target device shortening.

8. The method of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the determining that the distance between the first location and the second location is less than the predefined distance is in response to determining (402) that the second target device is associated with the personal protection order.

9. The method of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the personal protection order is a legal prohibition applying to a first subscriber associated with the first target device.

10. The method of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first request and the second request are Mobile Terminating Location Requests.

11. A network node (600) that implements a Positioning Alert Service Function device (112) that is configured to provide an alert for an approach violation, the network node (600) comprising a processor (604) configured to cause the network node (600) to: provide (202) to a Location Services, LCS, Server (116) a first request for a location of a first target device; receive (204), a first location of the first target device; provide (212) to the LCS Server (116) a second request for a location of a second target device; receive (214), a second location of the second target device; determine (216) that a distance between the first location and the second location is less than a predefined distance associated with a personal protection order associated with the first target device and the second target device; and provide (218), to a Mediation and Delivery Function, MDF, (114) a Lawful Access Location Services, LALS, Alert that comprises the first location of the first target device, and the distance between the first location and the second location.

12. The network node (600) of claim 11, wherein the processor (604) is further configured to cause the network node (600) to: provide (206), to the MDF (114), in response to receiving the first location of the first target device, a first LALS Report comprising the first location of the first target device.

13. The network node (600) of claim 12, wherein the LALS Alert comprises the first LALS Report, a distance between the first location and the second location and a second LALS Report comprising the second location of the second target device.

14. The network node (600) of any of claims 11 to 13, wherein the processor (604) is further configured to cause the network node (600) to: repeat (222) the providing the first request and the second request at predefined intervals.

15. The network node (600) of claim 14, wherein the processor (604) is further configured to cause the network node (600) to: store (210) a most recent first location of the first target device in memory.

16. The network node (600) of any of claims 14 to 15, wherein the predefined interval is based on a previous distance between the first target device and the second target device.

17. The network node (600) of claim 16, wherein the predefined interval decreases in duration in response to a distance between the first target device and the second target device shortening.

18. The network node (600) of any of claims 11 to 16, wherein the determining that the distance between the first location and the second location is less than the predefined distance is in response to determining (402) that the second target device is associated with the personal protection order.

19. The network node (600) of any of claims 11 to 18, wherein the personal protection order is a legal prohibition applying to a first subscriber associated with the first target device.

20. The network node (600) of any of claims 11 to 19, wherein the first request and the second request are Mobile Terminating Location Requests.

21. A computer program (610) comprising instructions which, when executed on at least one processor (604), cause a Positioning Alert Service Function device (112) to carry out the method according to any of claims 1 to 11.

22. A carrier containing the computer program (610) of claim 21, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer readable storage medium (606).

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