Systems and method for provisioning location determination systems

New location information that is different from the old location information being used by location determination system is received by a provisioning system. A location change metric is determined from the old and new location information. The location determination system is provisioned by the provisioning system with the new location information if the location change metric meets certain criteria.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Telecommunication carriers are required by government regulations to provide emergency calling services to their customers. In the United States and Canada, 911 is the official emergency phone number that callers can dial in order to reach dispatch personnel at a public safety answering points (PSAP). When a caller dials 911 from a telephone, the call is routed by a carrier to receiving equipment at a PSAP facility. A dispatcher at the facility answers the call and assists the caller with their emergency.

Often times, dispatchers must dispatch first responder personnel to the scene of an emergency to render assistance to callers. In the past, dispatchers had to ask a caller for his location. Over time, most telecommunication carriers developed the capability to automatically determine the location of caller who dialed 911 via a landline. For instance, 911 callers on a landline can be located based on their phone number. In the case of broadband 911 voice calls, callers can be located based on the identity of their broadband equipment.

During the course of a 911 call made from a mobile phone, a PSAP or other emergency services provider may request the carrier determine the approximate location of a mobile 911 caller. Once the carrier determines an approximate location of a mobile caller, this information may be relayed to the PSAP. One method of providing this approximate location is to give the requestor the location of the radio tower servicing the 911 call. This approximate location may also be used to determine which PSAP should receive the 911 call.

Government regulations, however, do not allow a carrier to make certain changes to its location determinations without following certain procedures or meeting certain standards. For example, consider the case where a carrier moves a cell tower from inside city limits to outside city limits and this new location would result in new location information being provided by the carrier to a PSAP. For example, this new location may change the PSAP that services the mobile 911 calls routed through that tower from the municipal PSAP to the county PSAP. To make this change, one or both of the county and municipal PSAP's may need to consent.

To obtain this consent, or otherwise satisfy the requirements of a regulatory scheme, time consuming or expensive procedures or tests may need to be conducted such as a drive test. A drive test may involve sending personnel out to various locations in a PSAP's service area to determine if the routing of mobile 911 calls is to the proper PSAP. Or a drive test may check that the location being provided by the carrier meets certain accuracy criteria. Accordingly, because changing the information used to make mobile 911 location determinations might effect the location determinations provided by the carriers location determination equipment, there is a problem modifying the information used to make mobile 911 call location determinations without incurring possibly unnecessary expense and time consuming procedures.

OVERVIEW

In an embodiment of the invention, new location information that is different from the old location information being used by location determination system is received. A location change metric is determined from the old and new location information. The location determination system is provisioned with the new location information if the location change metric meets certain criteria.

An embodiment of the invention comprises a first information transfer link that receives new location information. The new location information is different from the old location information being used by a location determining system. A location change metric determining system determines a location change metric from the old and new location information. An information transfer link communicates the new location information to the location determination system if the location change metric meets a certain criteria.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating a system that provides new location information to emergency service providers. Communication network100includes caller101, communication network120, public safety answering point (PSAP)130, and location determination system (LDS)140, and location provisioning system (LPS)160. LDS140includes location information database (LID)150. Caller101is operatively coupled to communication network120. LPS160is operatively coupled with LDS140, and in particular, with LID150. PSAP130is also operatively coupled with communication network120and thereby also operatively coupled with caller101.

Communication network120could be any network or collection of networks that couple, link, or otherwise operatively connect caller101with other callers or PSAP130. It should be understood that communication network120may also connect PSAP130with LDS140, or LDS140and LPS160. However, other secondary data networks could be used. In an example, communication network may include a backhaul network, a local network, a long distance network, or a packet network, or any combination thereof, as well as other types of networks.

Caller101may be any device, system, or other such communication platform capable of communicating with LDS140and PSAP130over communication network120. Caller101may be, for example, a mobile phone, a wireless phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireline phone, or any combination thereof, as well as any other type of device or system. Other types of communication platforms are possible.

LPS160may be any system or collection of systems capable of communicating with LDS140to provision LDS with data or updates to data (a.k.a. location information) that is used by LDS to determine or help determine the an approximate location corresponding to caller101. LPS may also be capable of interacting directly or indirectly with any location information used by LDS to determine or help determine the location of caller101such as location information database150. LDS140may be part of, for example, a mobile switching center (MSC), a soft switch, a media gateway controller, or any combination or variation thereof, as well as another type of call locating system.

Location determining system140could be any system or collection of systems, such as location information database150, capable of determining an approximate location of callers to emergency services or a PSAP. In an example, location information database150could be part of mobile positioning centers (MPC). It should be understood that location determining system140may include additional elements not pictured for the sake of clarity. For example, position determining equipment (PDE) may be included. Furthermore, a gateway system may be included to interface between PSAP130and location information database150. An example of a gateway is an automatic location identification (ALI) gateway or database query engine.

FIG. 2is a flow diagram illustrating a method for provisioning location determination system with new location information. In a step202, new location information is received by location provisioning system160. For example, this new location information may be new latitude and longitude coordinates for the location of a radio tower that has been moved.

Another example of new location information is new latitude and longitude coordinates for the centroid of the radio wave radiation pattern, reception pattern, or coverage area corresponding to a tower or cell sector after a change has been made to the tower's antenna. Yet another example of new location information is new latitude and longitude coordinates for the centroid of the radio wave radiation pattern, reception pattern, or coverage area corresponding to a tower or cell sector that results from new radio wave propagation modeling techniques such as a new or improved computer models.

Another example of new location information is new latitude and longitude coordinates for the centroid of the radio wave radiation pattern, reception pattern, or coverage area that results from changing a tower or cell sector's frequency band of operation (e.g. from the 800 MHz band to the 850 MHZ band.). New location information may be new latitude and longitude coordinates for the centroid of a cell sector service area that results from changes to other towers or cell sectors so that the area serviced by a tower or sector, and therefore the coordinates that specify the centroid of its service area, changes.

It should be understood that the examples given above are within the scope of the invention. In addition, other possible changes, or reasons for changing the location information exist and within the scope of the invention. It is also within the scope of the invention that the new location information may be based upon these changes to the location information, or reasons for changing the location information, and any combination of, or result of, one or more of the examples given above.

In a step204, the location provisioning system calculates a change in location metric. For example, this metric may be the distance in meters from old latitude and longitude coordinates to new latitude and longitude coordinates. In another example, the metric may be whether a new location falls within the service area of a different PSAP than the old location. In another example, the metric may represent an area that is correlated to the difference in service coverage areas represented by the old and new location information.

In another example, the metric may represent a change in signal strength at a particular location or over a particular area. An example of a particular location may be the centroid of the old location information or the location of the local sheriff's office complex. An example of a particular area may be a particular city block or some or all of the old location information's cell sector service area. All of these examples are within the scope of the invention. In addition, other possible change in location metrics exist and are also within the scope of the invention. It is also within the scope of the invention that a change in location metric may be based upon these other metrics and any combination of, or result of, one or more of the change in location metric examples given above.

In a step206, location determining system is provisioned with the new location information by location provisioning system160if the change in location metric meets a criteria. Location provisioning system160may provision location determination system with the new location information by changing an entry or record in location information database150. An example of criteria that the change in location metric may meet is that the new location information represents a point that is less than a certain distance from the point represented by the old location information. (E.g. the new point is only 1 meter from the old point. This is not a significant change so the new location may be used.)

Another example of criteria is whether the new location information would result in a change to the PSAP servicing all or some percentage of the calls associated with the old location information. Another example of criteria is the amount of change in service coverage areas represented by the new location information and the old location information falling below, or exceeding, a threshold value. Another example of criteria is the amount of signal strength change at a particular location or over a particular area falling below, or exceeding, a threshold value. All of these examples are within the scope of the invention. In addition, other possible criteria exist and are also within the scope of the invention. It is also within the scope of the invention that the criteria may be based upon these other criteria and any combination of, or result of, one or more of the example criteria given above.

FIG. 3is a block diagram illustrating a system that provisions a location determination system with new location information and provides location determinations to a PSAP. System300includes caller350, communication network392, public safety answering point (PSAP)393, and location determination system (LDS)394, location provisioning system (LPS)396, and location based services (LBS)380. LDS394includes first location information database (LID)397and second location information database398. Caller350is operatively coupled to communication network392. LPS396is operatively coupled with LDS394, and in particular, with LIDs397and398. PSAP393is also operatively coupled with communication network392and thereby also operatively coupled with caller350.

Communication network392may be any network or collection of networks that couple, link, or otherwise operatively connect caller350with other callers or PSAP393. It should be understood that communication network392may also connect PSAP393with LDS394, or LDS394and LPS396. It should be understood that communication network392may also connect LBS380with LDS394, or LDS394and LPS396. However, other secondary data networks may be used. In an example, communication network may include a backhaul network, a local network, a long distance network, or a packet network, or any combination thereof, as well as other types of networks.

Caller350may be any device, system, or other such communication platform capable of communicating with LDS394and PSAP393over communication network392. Caller350may be, for example, a mobile phone, a wireless phone, or a wireline phone, or any combination thereof, as well as any other type of device or system. Other types of communication platforms are possible.

LPS396may be any system or collection of systems capable of communicating with LDS394to provision or re-provision LDS with data or updates to the data that is used by LDS to determine or help determine the location of caller350. LPS may also be capable of interacting directly or indirectly with any location information used by LDS to determine or help determine the location of caller350such as first and second LIDs397and398. LDS394may be part of, for example, a mobile switching center (MSC), a soft switch, a media gateway controller, or any combination or variation thereof, as well as another type of call locating system.

Location determining system394may be any system or collection of systems, such as first LID397, second LID398, and computer system370capable of determining an approximate location of caller350. Computer system370may contain, or interact with first or second LID397or398, respectively. In an example, first and second LIDs397and398, and computer system370, may be part of a mobile positioning center (MPC). It should be understood that location determining system394may include additional elements not pictured for the sake of clarity. For example, additional position determining equipment (PDE) may be included. Furthermore, a gateway system may be included to interface between PSAP393and first LID397. Another gateway system may be included to interface between LBS380and second LID398. An example of a gateway is an automatic location identification (ALI) gateway or database query engine.

Base stations322and324are operatively coupled to communication network392, and thereby to PSAP393, LDS394, LPS396, LBS380and first and second LIDs397and398. Base stations322and324are operatively coupled to communication network392by at least communication links326and328, respectively. InFIG. 3, base station322is shown, for exemplary purposes, to have three cell sectors330,332and334which are depicted as their respective coverage areas330,332, and334. This is for the purposes of illustration and base stations322or324may have a different number of cell sectors. InFIG. 3, base station322is shown to be operatively coupled to caller350. Caller350is shown to be in the coverage area for cell sector330. This represents that caller350is being serviced by cell sector330.

FIG. 3also shows mobile measuring device352. Mobile measuring device352is shown to be operatively coupled to base station322. Mobile measuring device is shown to be in the coverage area for cell sector334. This represents that mobile measuring device is making measurements that relate to cell sector334. Mobile measuring device is also shown to be operatively linked to location provisioning system396. This represents that measurements taken by mobile measuring device may be transferred to location provisioning system396. Mobile measuring device350may be used to perform detailed cell sector analysis or checks such as a drive test.

Locations340,342,344are shown to be in the coverage areas for cell sectors330,332, and342, respectively. Location345is shown to be in the coverage area for cell sector334, but in a different place than location344.

FIG. 4illustrates a database of location information that may be used by location determination system. The database illustrated inFIG. 4may reside in first or second LID397or398, respectively.FIG. 4illustrates a database, in table form, with seven or more exemplary fields. Those fields are named: Market, Switch Number, Cell identification, Sector identification, Location, Location Properties, and Sector Properties. Of course, there could be more or less than this number of fields, and the fields depicted inFIG. 4and their names are for illustrative purposes only.

An exemplary entry for each of these fields is also shown inFIG. 4. InFIG. 4, the exemplary entry has: Denver in the Market field; 7 in the Switch Number field; 14 in the Cell ID field, 270 in the Sector ID field; 509293E and 4483057N in the Location field; PSAP=1 and Certainty=4 in the Location Properties field; and, Shape=3 and Adj=3-90 in the Sector Properties field. The Market, Switch Number, Cell identification, and sector identification may form a unique key that uniquely identifies a cell sector. For example, the combination of Market, Switch Number, Cell ID, and Sector ID values shown in the exemplary entry inFIG. 4may uniquely identify cell sector330. Cell sectors342and344would have a different combination of Market, Switch Number, Cell ID, and Sector ID values.

Accordingly, to retrieve location information for cell sector330, LDS394may query first or second LID397or398with the Market, Switch Number, Cell ID, and Sector ID values of Denver, 7, 14 and 270, respectively. In response, first or second LID397or398would, in this example, return the values shown inFIG. 4for Location, Location Properties, and Sector Properties. These values of Location, Location Properties, and Sector Properties may be used by LDS394to determine or help determine a location that is then passed to either PSAP393or LBS380.

To illustrate by example how the database and database entry illustratedFIG. 4may be used by LDS394, consider the system shown inFIG. 3. Consider the case where caller350places a call. Since caller350is located in cell sector330, and base station322services the calls in cell sector330, (as well as those calls in332and334) this call is serviced by base station322which passes the call information (which may include, for example, Market, Switch Number, Cell ID and Sector ID of the cell sector servicing the caller350) and call content to communication network392over communication link326. If, for example, PSAP needs a location corresponding to caller350, it may pass a request to communication network392. Communication network392may then forward that request to LDS394.

LDS394may also receive from communication network392, the Market, Switch Number, Cell ID, and Sector ID values of Denver, 7, 14 and 270, respectively. LDS394may then query first LID397or second LID398with the unique key of Denver, 7, 14, and 270 for the fields Market, Switch Number, Cell ID, and Sector ID. In response to this query, LDS394would receive back the location information of: 509293E and 4483057N in the Location field; PSAP=1 and Certainty=4 in the Location Properties field; and, Shape=3 and Adj=3-90 in the Sector Properties field. This location information may then be used by LDS394to determine a location to be given to PSAP393in response the request PSAP392made for a location corresponding to caller350. For example, LDS394may simply send PSAP392the contents of the Location field which may correspond to a latitude and longitude for the centroid of cell sector330.

LDS394may also send additional information retrieved from first or second LID397or398to PSAP392. For example, LDS394may also send the information retrieved in the Location Properties field to the PSAP. In the example database entry ofFIG. 4, the Location Properties field returned PSAP=1 and Certainty=4 which, for example, may tell the PSAP that it is the correct PSAP to be servicing the call from caller350(since the number1corresponds the PSAP servicing caller350) and that the location information being provided by LDS394is accurate to 4 meters.

LDS394may also combine the information retrieved with other information to determine a location to send to PSAP392. For example, LDS394may combine signal strength information it receives from base station322via communication network392with the contents of the Location field and the contents of the Sector Properties field to determine a location to send to PSAP392. For example, if base station322reported that the signal strength of caller350was approximately equal for cell sectors330and332, LDS may average locations340and342and send that as the location of caller350to PSAP392. Other methods which use other data, either obtained from first or second LID397or398, or other sources are also possible.

FIG. 5illustrates a flow chart of a method of supplying sector characteristics to location determination system. These sector characteristics may include location information that is used by LDS394to determine the location of callers such as caller350.

In a step502, a new sector characteristic is determined. This may be caused or a result of a change in location information for a cell sector. Examples of changes to location information for a cell sector are discussed, above, in the discussion ofFIG. 2. In addition, a new cell sector characteristic may be determined from measurements made by, for example, mobile measuring device352. For example, mobile measuring device352may determine that the centroid of cell sector334is not location344. Instead mobile measuring device352may determine that the centroid of cell sector334is location345. This determination is an exemplary change in a cell sector characteristic. Other exemplary types of new location information discussed in the discussion ofFIG. 2and other characteristics such as the shape of the cell sector coverage area, angle of the cell sector coverage pattern, or signal strength map of the cell sector, are further examples of new cell sector characteristics that may be determined.

In a step504, the new cell sector characteristic is received. For example, the new cell sector characteristic may be transferred to LPS396from mobile measuring device352.

In a step506, a change between the old sector characteristic and the new sector characteristic is calculated. Examples of changes between the old sector characteristic and the new sector characteristics are given in the discussion, above, ofFIG. 2and the change in location metric.

In a step508, if the calculated change between the old sector characteristic and the new sector characteristic meets a criteria, a first LID397is provisioned with the new sector characteristic. Examples of changes between the old sector characteristic and the new sector characteristics are given in the discussion, above, ofFIG. 2and criteria that a change in location metric may meet. LID397, and by extension LDS394, may be provisioned with the new sector characteristic by LPS396.

In a step510, a second LDS database398is provisioned with the new sector characteristic. The second LDS database398is provisioned with the new sector characteristic even if the first LDS database fails to meet the criteria and is not provisioned with the new sector characteristic.

FIG. 6illustrates a flow chart of a method that provides location information. In a step602, a request for location information is received. For example, this request for location information may be communicated to LDS394via communication network392and may originate from PSAP393, LBS380, caller350, or mobile measuring device352.

In a step604, the source of the request for location information is determined. The source of the request for location information may be determined by the type of request for location information, the content requested, or by some other unique characteristic. For example, location information requests by PSAP393are generally associated with a key that is utilized during a call to emergency services (such as a 911 call) to correlate information on the call by a wide variety of network elements in communication network300. Therefore, when a request for location information contains a reference to a key of the type used correlate information on emergency services call, it can be determined that the source of the request for location information is a PSAP393.

Another example would be a request for location information that requests the location of a base station322. In communication network300, a request for this type of location information might, for example, only be associated with requests from mobile measuring device350. Therefore, it could be determined that the source of a request asking for this type of information was a request by a mobile measuring device350.

In another example, a request for location information may ask for the location information to be supplied in Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinate system format. In communication network300, a request for the location information to be supplied in UTM format might, for example, only be associated with requests from LBS380. Therefore, it could be determined that the source of a request asking for the location information to be supplied in UTM for was a request by LBS380.

In a step606, LDS394selects which LID,397or398, it will use to service the request for location information. The selection of which LID397or398may be made based upon the source of the request. For example, if the request if from a PSAP393, the LDS394may select first LID397because it only contains location information that has met all of the regulatory requirements (such as consent by a PSAP or a drive test) required of location information that is supplied to PSAPs. In another example, the LDS394may select second LID398because the request came from LBS380and LBS380desires the most recent location information to provide a service.

In a step608, the location information to be provided in response to the request for location information is determined. The location information to be provided in response to the request is determined, at least in part, on information provided by the selected LID397or398. In a step610, a response is provided to the request for location information.

The methods described above may be implemented or executed by one or more computer systems. The methods described above may also be stored on a computer readable medium. Many of the elements of communication network100and communication network300may be, comprise, or include computers systems. This includes, but is not limited to caller101, communication network120, PSAP130, LDS140, LPS160, LID150, LDS394, LPS396, computer system370, caller350, LID397, LID398, base stations322and324, communication network392, LBS380, and mobile measuring device352.

FIG. 7illustrates a block diagram of a computer system. Computer system700includes communication interface720, processing system730, and user interface760. Processing system730includes storage system740. Storage system740stores software750. Processing system730is linked to communication interface720and user interface760. Computer system700could be comprised of a programmed general-purpose computer, although those skilled in the art will appreciate that programmable or special purpose circuitry and equipment may be used. Computer system700may be distributed among multiple devices that together comprise elements720-760.

Communication interface720could comprise a network interface, modem, port, transceiver, or some other communication device. Communication interface720may be distributed among multiple communication devices. Processing system730could comprise a computer microprocessor, logic circuit, or some other processing device. Processing system730may be distributed among multiple processing devices. User interface760could comprise a keyboard, mouse, voice recognition interface, microphone and speakers, graphical display, touch screen, or some other type of user device. User interface760may be distributed among multiple user devices. Storage system740could comprise a disk, tape, integrated circuit, server, or some other memory device. Storage system740may be distributed among multiple memory devices.

Processing system730retrieves and executes software750from storage system740. Software750may comprise an operating system, utilities, drivers, networking software, and other software typically loaded onto a computer system. Software750could comprise an application program, firmware, or some other form of machine-readable processing instructions. When executed by processing system730, software750directs processing system730to operate as described herein.