Mobile Device Location Transmission via SS7 Fallback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices often cannot transmit location data to location-based service systems when they have a cellular signal but no Internet connection, as they rely on wireless Internet for communication.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using the Signaling System #7 (SS7) telephony protocol to transmit location data when Internet access is unavailable, and converting SS7 data to a format compatible with the location-based service system, such as XML, while maintaining a queue of location messages with timestamps for accurate ordering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mobile devices use wireless Internet to transmit location data, then location data can be transmitted when Internet connection is available, but location data cannot be transmitted when Internet connection is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between Internet-based transmission and SS7-based transmission based on Internet availability. When Internet connection is available, location data is transmitted via Internet; when Internet connection is unavailable, the system automatically falls back to SS7 transmission through the cellular network, ensuring continuous location tracking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The SS7 signaling network acts as an intermediary transmission path when the primary Internet transmission path is unavailable. The location data is converted to SS7 signaling messages and transmitted through the cellular network infrastructure, enabling location data transmission even without Internet connectivity.
2Reliability
If mobile devices transmit location data via SS7 when Internet is unavailable, then location data can be transmitted without Internet connection, but transmission speed and efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic transmission path selection, preferring the faster Internet path when available and automatically switching to the slower SS7 path only when necessary. This minimizes the impact on transmission speed by using SS7 as a fallback rather than a primary transmission method.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transmits location data with partial frequency when using SS7 compared to Internet transmission. Since SS7 is used only as a fallback, the system can reduce the transmission frequency or update rate when using this slower path, optimizing the balance between reliability and speed.
3Measurement precision
If mobile devices maintain continuous location tracking, then accurate location information is available, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic location updates rather than continuous real-time tracking. Location data is transmitted at regular intervals or when significant location changes occur, reducing the frequency of transmissions and associated energy consumption while maintaining sufficient location accuracy for most applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts location update parameters such as update frequency, transmission interval, and accuracy requirements based on current conditions including Internet availability, device battery status, and application needs. This allows optimization of energy consumption while maintaining acceptable location accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A location-based service system for providing messages to a recipient and, in particular, to transmission methods and systems for providing location data of a device to a location-based service system. A method of updating a location of a mobile device includes determining a location of the mobile device and, based on Internet accessibility of the mobile device, transmitting the location via Internet communication when Internet access is available and via SS7 communication when Internet access is unavailable.