Mobile Device Location Relay Across Cellular Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining the location of a mobile device in a cellular network fail to provide interoperability between different network providers without disclosing the location of all base stations, as operators are reluctant to share this information, and maintaining such databases is cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

A method where the first cellular network provides encrypted location information of its base stations to the mobile device, which then relays this information to a second network, allowing the second network to decrypt it, thus keeping the base station locations private between the networks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the first network provides location information of all base stations to the second network, then the second network can determine the location of the mobile device, but the second network must maintain comprehensive base station location data which operators are reluctant to share

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation determination accuracyVSAvoiddatabase maintenance complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile device acts as an intermediary that stores base station location information locally and provides it to the second network when needed, eliminating the need for the second network to maintain comprehensive base station location databases

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of the network providing location information to the mobile device, the mobile device receives and stores location information and then provides it to the network, reversing the traditional information flow direction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the first network discloses the location of all base stations to the second network, then interoperability between networks is achieved, but the privacy and security of base station locations is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork interoperabilityVSAvoidbase station location privacy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile device serves as a secure intermediary that holds base station location information locally, allowing the second network to obtain location data without the first network operator needing to disclose or share sensitive base station location information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the base station location information management by having each mobile device maintain its own local database of base station locations, rather than requiring centralized sharing between network operators

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the second network maintains information about all base stations of the first network, then location provision is possible, but the maintenance burden and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation provision reliabilityVSAvoiddatabase maintenance ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Each mobile device independently maintains its own local database of base station location information, eliminating the need for the second network to perform maintenance tasks such as updating base station locations when new base stations are added to the first network

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS8190171B2Method and device for providing the location of a mobile station

Publication Date: 2012.05.29 KONINK KPN NV

AI summary

The present invention provides a solution for providing the location of a mobile device connected to a first mobile network to a second mobile network. A mobile device receives information about the geographic location of the base stations in its neighborhood. Based on the identity of the base station the device is connected to the device can determine its geographic location and provide that to the second mobile network.