OTT Service Node Location Retrieval via Operator DNS
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Solution Overview
Problem
OTT service providers lack the ability to retrieve accurate geographic location information of communication devices, which is crucial in emergency situations, as they are not aware of the devices' IP addresses or geographic locations, even when connected through NAT nodes or other communication networks.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an OTT service providing node that determines the operator and Operator Location Service (OLS) node, allowing it to request and retrieve geographic location information from a Location Server using identifiers such as IP addresses and port numbers, enabling fast and automatic location determination without human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If OTT service providing node uses NAT node for communication, then communication flexibility is improved, but geographic location awareness is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Location Information Server (LIS) as an intermediary component that stores and provides geographic location information. The NAT node is enhanced with a location information module that communicates with the LIS to obtain and forward location data to the OTT service providing node, thus mediating the loss of location information caused by NAT usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the location information management into separate functional modules: the NAT node's location information module, the standalone Location Information Server (LIS), and the OTT service providing node. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall system capability for location awareness despite NAT usage.
2Loss of information
If OTT service providing node directly accesses host IP addresses, then location information availability is improved, but network security and flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The NAT node is enhanced with multi-functionality, serving both its traditional network address translation role and an additional location information provisioning role. The location information module within the NAT node can obtain location data from the LIS and provide it to OTT service providing nodes, making the NAT node a universal component that handles both networking and location services.
3Measurement precision
If manual location input is required from end users, then location information accuracy can be improved, but response time and user convenience are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-obtaining and storing geographic location information in the Location Information Server (LIS) and in the NAT node's location information module before emergency situations occur. During normal operation and connection establishment, location data is retrieved and cached, so that when an emergency call is made, the location information is already available and can be immediately provided to the OTT service providing node without requiring manual user input during the critical emergency response time.
Data Source
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AI summary
Method and OTT (Over The Top) service providing node for retrieval of geographic location information of a communication device. The communication device is communicatively connected to the OTT service providing node via a communication network. A request for an OTT service is received 400 from the communication device, and an identifier of the communication device is determined 402. Further, an operator of the communication device is determined 404, by utilising the determined identifier of the communication device; and an identifier of an OLS (Operator Location Service) node of the operator is determined 406. A location request is sent 408 to the OLS node for requesting geographic location information of the communication device, the location request comprising the identifier of the communication device, the identifier of the communication device to be utilised by the OLS node for retrieving the requested geographic location information from a location server, and the retrieved geographic location information to be sent by the OLS node to the OTT service providing node. The sent geographic location information is received 410. By arranging OLS nodes and storing appropriate identifiers of the OLS nodes in DNSs, an OTT service providing node may retrieve accurate geographic location information of host from appropriate location servers.