Abstract:
The instant amendment is provided as a complete replacement to the amendment filed on Jul. 10, 2012. The instant amendment is submitted to correct a typographical error found in the previously-filed amendment. Claims  1  and  13  in the previously-filed amendment incorrectly recite “when it is determined by the MSC that a change of area event for the UE has occurred, forwarding a Subscriber Location Report (SLR) from the MSC to the VGMLC when it is determined by the MSC that a change of area event for the UE has occurred,” whereas they should have recited “forwarding a Subscriber Location Report (SLR) from the MSC to the VGMLC when it is determined by the MSC that a change of area event for the UE has occurred,” instead.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed towards providing location services to users in a communication network. More particularly, the present invention provides a system and method for reporting change of area event at the network side for an electronic communication device such as mobile phone for a predetermined location. 
     Electronic communication devices such as mobile phones are being widely used to facilitate wireless communication among users. Mobile phones use various mobile technologies such as Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) to serve users. Generally, mobile phones are used to provide call and messaging services to users. However, with advent of technology, mobile phones are also being used to provide location services to users. 
     Some mobile phones comprise Location Service (LCS) client to provide location services to users. LCS Client is a software and/or hardware entity that interacts with an LCS Server for obtaining location information of one or more mobile phones in a network. An LCS Client can generate two types of location service requests, immediate location request and deferred location request. When a user wants to know immediate location of a target mobile phone, LCS Client of the user generates an immediate location request. 
     In deferred location request, an LCS Client requests for location of a target mobile phone at a time of occurrence of one or more predefined events. An example of deferred location request is requesting for a location report when change of area event occurs for a target mobile phone for a predetermined location. Change of area event occurs for the target mobile phone when it enters/stays/leaves a predetermined location. 
     An LCS Client sends an LCS request to a target mobile phone for reporting change of area event for a predetermined location. The target mobile phone sends a location update report to the LCS Client when it enters/leaves/stays at the predetermined location. However, only those mobile phones can send a location update report to LCS Client in which change of area event technology is embedded. The change of area event technology is expensive and is not embedded in all existing mobile phones. Further, majority of old-fashioned mobile phones does not have change of area event technology. As a result, the above-mentioned mobile phones are not able to serve a request for a change of area event. 
     In light of the abovementioned disadvantages, there is a need for a method and system that facilitates reporting of change of area event for mobile phones which does not have change of area event functionality. Further, there is a need for a method and system that is capable of sending location update report to LCS Client whenever a change of area event occurs for the mobile phone using existing mobile networks. Furthermore, there is a need for a system and method where the change of area event can be supported at the network side irrespective of user equipment. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A method for reporting change of area event is provided. The method comprises firstly receiving a Location Service (LCS) request from an LCS Client to report a change of area event for a User Equipment (UE) for a predetermined location. Secondly, obtaining an address of a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) associated with the predetermined location. Thirdly, establishing a connection with the MSC associated with the predetermined location. Thereafter, forwarding the LCS request to a Visited Gateway Mobile Location Center (VGMLC) associated with the MSC when the connection is established. Then, checking whether a change of area event has occurred for the UE by monitoring location update of the UE at the MSC. After that, sending a Subscriber Location Report (SLR) from the MSC to the VGMLC when the change of area event occurs for the UE. Finally, sending a location update report from the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center (HGMLC) to the LCS Client based on the SLR. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the change of area event occurs when the UE moves into the predetermined location. In another embodiment of the present invention, the change of area event occurs when the UE leaves the predetermined location. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the change of area event occurs when the UE stays in the predetermined location. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises a step of decoding the predetermined location into one or more cell identities and obtaining the address of the MSC serving one or more cells. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises a step of checking whether the connection with the MSC is established. Secondly, sending a Provide Subscriber Location (PSL) request from the VGMLC to the MSC of the predetermined location. Thirdly, transmitting a PSL acknowledgement from the MSC of the predetermined location to the VGMLC. Next, checking whether a timer has timed out when the change of area event does not occur for the predetermined location. Further, indicating a failure of invocation of change of area event when the timer is timed out. In another embodiment of the present invention, a value of the timer is set by a user managing the LCS Client. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises a step of receiving a SLR acknowledgment at the MSC from the VGMLC of the predetermined location. 
     A communication network for reporting change of area event is provided. The communication network comprises a User Equipment (UE). The system further comprises an LCS Client that is configured to send an LCS request to report change of area event for a UE for a predetermined location. The system also comprise a Home Gateway Mobile Location Center (HGMLC) configured to receive the LCS request from the LCS Client, secure an address of a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) associated with the predetermined location, forward the LCS request to a Visited GMLC (VGMLC) associated with the MSC; and send a location update report to the LCS Client. The system further comprises an MSC associated with a predetermined location configured to check whether a change of area event has occurred for the UE by monitoring location update of the UE at the MSC and send a Subscriber Location Report (SLR) to the VGMLC when the change of area event occurs for the UE. In addition, the system comprises a VGMLC associated with the MSC which is configured to send the location update report to the HGMLC based on the SLR. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is described by way of embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of a communication network for reporting change of area event for a user equipment; and 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method of reporting change of area event for a UE for a predetermined location. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A system and a method for reporting change of area event in a communication network are described herein. The invention provides a change of area event functionality at the network side irrespective of the capability of the user equipment. The present invention also provides a means for utilizing existing cost effective communication networks and user equipments for reporting change of area event. The method of the invention may be provided on a computer readable medium. 
     The disclosure is provided in order to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention. Exemplary embodiments herein are provided only for illustrative purposes and various modifications will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art. The general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The terminology and phraseology used is for the purpose of describing exemplary embodiments and should not be considered limiting. Thus, the present invention is to be accorded the widest scope encompassing numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents consistent with the principles and features disclosed. For the purpose of clarity, details relating to technical material that are known in the technical fields related to the invention have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention. 
     The present invention would now be discussed in context of embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of a communication network for reporting change of area event. Communication network  100  comprises user equipment (UE)  102 , location services (LCS) client  104 , a Requesting Gateway Mobile Location Center (RGMLC)  106 , a Home GMLC (HGMLC)  108 , an Application Server  110 , a Visited GMLC (VGMLC)  112 , and a Mobile Switching Center (MSC)  114 . 
     Communication network  100  is a wireless network in which one or more electronic communication devices are interconnected to facilitate mobile communication amongst multiple users. Communication devices make use of various mobile technologies to provide mobile communication services to end users. Examples of mobile technologies include, but are not limited to, Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) and Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS). In various embodiments of the present invention, communication network  100  may include multiple mobile networks. For example, a particular geographic area in a state may be served by AT&amp;T and another geographic area may be served by Verizon Wireless. 
     Further, in a communication network  100 , geographic locations are divided into small geographic units knows as cells. In various embodiments of the present invention, cell is represented by a cell identity (id) and a size of a cell can range from 50 meters to 20 kilometers in diameter. In another embodiment of the present invention, a single geographic location is represented by one or more cell ids based on the size of area it encompasses. 
     UE  102  is a portable electronic communication device used by an end user to communicate with other users in communication network  100 . UE  102  provides call and messaging services to users and is generally carried by an end user. Examples of UE  102  include, but are not limited to, a mobile phone, hand-held device, blackberry, portable device or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). In an embodiment of the present invention, UE  102  may reside either in its home network or a visited network. A home network of UE  102  is a mobile network to which UE  102  is subscribed/registered. When UE  102  visits a mobile network that is different from its home network, the mobile network is referred to as a visited network. For example, when UE  102  has home network as San Jose network, then Santa Clara network can be referred to as a visited network for UE  102 . 
     LCS Client  104  is a software and/or hardware entity that resides within a computing unit and is capable of generating LCS requests for obtaining location information of UE  102 . Examples of computing unit where LCS Client  104  may be installed include, but are not limited to, mobile phone, portable device, hand-held device, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), laptop, and personal computer. In an embodiment of the present invention, LCS Client  104  generates an LCS request for receiving change of area event report for UE  102  for a predetermined location. The change of area event occurs for UE  102  when UE  102  enters or leaves a specific predetermined location. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, reporting of change of area event may be implemented using single LCS Client and single UE. In another embodiment of the present invention, reporting of change of area event may be implemented using multiple LCS Clients and multiple UEs. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, reporting of change of area event may be implemented using single LCS Client and multiple UEs. 
     Communication network  100  may include multiple GMLCs such as RGMLC  106 , HGMLC  108 , and VGMLC  112 . In various embodiments of the present invention, GMLC is a network device which supports LCS service functionality within a network. GMLCs are referred by different names according to their functionalities and placement in the network. For example, GMLC present in a home network of a UE  102  may be referred to as HGMLC  108 , GMLC present in a visiting network of UE  102  may be referred to as VGMLC  112 , and GMLC receiving LCS requests may be referred to as RGMLC  106 . In an embodiment of the present invention, all the three GMLCs can be referred to as LCS Server. 
     RGMLC  106  is a first network device that LCS Client  104  access in communication network  100 . RGMLC  106  receives all LCS requests generated by LCS Client  104  and acts as a gateway between LCS Client  104  and other networking elements in the communication network  100 . In an embodiment of the present invention, RGMLC  106  is a GMLC for receiving the location request initiated by LCS Client  104  to UE  102 . 
     HGMLC  108  resides in the home network of UE  102 . When LCS Client  104  requests for an intimation of change of area event for UE  102 , it is forwarded to HGMLC  108 . In another embodiment of the present invention, HGMLC  108  is a GMLC to which the UE  102  is registered/subscribed. 
     Application server  110  is a specialized server that has the key responsibility of running specific applications within the communication network  100 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the application server  110  interacts with a third party database to extract information related to subscribers of HGMLC  108 . In another embodiment of the present invention, application server  110  stores a list of geopolitical names of locations, cell ids and MSCs of communication network  100 . In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the application server  110  stores routing information pertaining to LCS requests for UE  102 . In yet another embodiment of the present invention, application server  110  may be a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) or a Service Control Point (SCP). 
     VGMLC  112  is a network entity which serves UE  102  when it roams, enters or stays in a predetermined location for which ‘change of area event’ is sought. In an embodiment of the present invention, VGMLC  112  is the GMLC associated with the area where the UE  102  is located at a particular instance of time. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the VGMLC  112  for UE  102  may be Santa Clara network when home network for UE  102  is San Jose network. In various embodiments of the present invention, ‘LCS request’ for reporting ‘change of area event’ is received by VGMLC  112  of the predetermined location. 
     MSC  114  is a network entity which works in agreement with VGMLC  112  and handles various call related and non-call related requests pertaining to UE  102 , when it roams, enters or stays in a predetermined location for which ‘change of area event’ is sought. MSC  114  also performs various LCS functions such as charging and billing of LCS services, LCS co-ordination, its operation, and authorization. In various embodiments of the present invention, the conversion of geopolitical name to Local Area Coverage (LAC)/Cell id is done at the MSC  114  itself. In another embodiment of the present invention, the geopolitical name is sent as a location request and the conversion to geopolitical name is done via third party database. 
     Operationally, LCS Client  104  sends an LCS request to RGMLC  106  for receiving change of area event report of UE  102  for a predetermined location. UE  102  is hereinafter referred to as a target UE. In an embodiment of the present invention, LCS request include information related to target UE such as mobile phone number, Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) information, service provider information etc. In another embodiment of the present invention, LCS request may include information related to target area/predetermined location such as location co-ordinates, geopolitical names etc. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, LCS request may include information related to type of change of area event. 
     The change of area event is generally of three types i.e. target UE enters predetermined location, target UE leaves predetermined location, and target UE stays in the predetermined location. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, LCS request specifies that the change of area event has to be reported to LCS Client  104  when the target UE with a specific mobile number enters a predetermined location. For example, a mobile phone number may have home network in San Jose and the change of area event has to be reported to LCS Client  104  when the mobile phone number roams in a predetermined location of Santa Clara network. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, LCS request may specify a predetermined time limit within which the change of area event has to be reported to an LCS Client  104 . In another embodiment of the present invention, the user via LCS request may specify a time limit of three days. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the LCS Client request may wait for the mobile phone for a predetermined time before it expires. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, the LCS request may further specify a limit on number of times the change of area event has to be reported to LCS Client  104 . If the change of area event has to be reported once, a location update report is sent to LCS Client  104  when first change of area event occurs for the target UE. If the change of area event has to be reported more than once, the LCS request may specify a minimum time interval between subsequent location update. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the LCS request may specify the value of location update report as four and the minimum time interval between each report as one hour. 
     Once a request has been received by RGMLC  106  from LCS Client  104 , it is forwarded to HGMLC  108 . The request from HGMLC  108  is further transmitted to application server  110  for securing an address of Mobile Switching Center (MSC)  114  associated with the predetermined location. 
     In operation, the application server  110  decodes the geopolitical name of the predetermined location. The application server  110  then searches for MSCs that can serve the target UE at the predetermined location. When a specific MSC is found suitable to serve target UE, the application server  110  returns an address of MSC  114  to HGMLC  108 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the address of MSC  114  may also include routing information to MSC  114  for LCS request. 
     The address of MSC  114  received by HGMLC  108  is further forwarded to VGMLC  112  associated with the MSC  114  of the predetermined location. VGMLC  112  and MSC  114  work together to enable MSC  114  in accomplishing LCS requests. Once a connection is established with the VGMLC  112  of the predetermined location, HGMLC  108  forwards the LCS request to VGMLC  112 . As soon as VGMLC  112  receives the LCS request, it sends a Provide Subscriber Location (PSL) request to MSC  114 . 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, PSL is used to retrieve the state of the target UE and location information. In another embodiment of the present invention, PSL request may include a reference number and HGMLC  108  address. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, PSL is a message which LCS Client  104  may invoke to get the location of the user. 
     MSC  114  on receiving the location information converts the location to appropriate cell ids associated with it. An event is armed inside the MSC  114  for those cell ids to send an SLR if the user enters a specific cell id. MSC  114  then sends a PSL Acknowledgement (Ack) to VGMLC  112  in response to the PSL request. PSL Ack indicates that MSC  114  has received the PSL request and shall provide with the target UE updates as soon as it enters the vicinity of the predetermined location. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, the target UE updates its location in MSC  114 , whenever it enters the cells covered by MSC  114  of the predetermined location. The method of updating location information in MSC  114  by the target UE is a fundamental feature of mobile communication services and is present in all existing UEs. In an embodiment of the present invention, if the predetermined location is covered by more than one cell then the first cell where the target UE entered is considered by MSC  114  for updating change of area event. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, if the predetermined location is covered by congested cells then also a first preference cell id is selected by the MSC  114  and is conveyed to MSC  114  via BSS. 
     As soon as target UE updates its location, MSC  114  provides a Subscriber Location Report (SLR) to VGMLC  112 . In an embodiment of the present invention, SLR report may include the identity of the cell in which target UE has entered, the time of entry, MSC  114  address etc. In another embodiment of the present invention, SLR may include the reference number and HGMLC  108  address that was included in the PSL request. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, SLR may also include the address of new MSC&#39;s that are available in the vicinity and can serve predetermined location. 
     VGMLC  112  on receiving SLR sends an acknowledgment to MSC  114  and then provides a location update report to HGMLC  108  on the basis of the SLR. HGMLC  108  then sends an LCS service response to LCS Client  104  in the form of location update report. Finally, LCS Client  104  receives a location update report even when the change of area technology is not embedded in target UE. In an embodiment of the present invention, VGMLC  112  may reissue a location request if the address of the new MSC was forwarded in the SLR request. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, MSC  114  waits for a predetermined time for receiving a location update from the target UE. When the target UE does not enter the predetermined location/cell within the predefined time limit, MSC  114  sends a SLR to VGMLC  112  reporting failure of invocation of change of area event for the predetermined location. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a method for reporting change of area event for a UE for a predetermined location. 
     At step  202 , an LCS request is received from an LCS Client to report change of area event for the UE for the predetermined location. At step  204 , an address of MSC associated with the predetermined location is obtained and a connection with the MSC is established. In various embodiment of the present invention, the predetermined location is further decoded into one or more cell ids and the address of MSC that serves those cell ids is obtained. 
     At step  206 , a check is performed to ensure whether the connection with the MSC associated with the predetermined location is established. If the connection with the MSC is established, at step  208 , the LCS request is forwarded to the VGMLC associated with the MSC of the predetermined location. In various embodiments of the present invention, VGMLC keeps on sending Provide Subscriber Location (PSL) request to the MSC of the predetermined location. In another embodiment of the present invention, PSL acknowledgements are transmitted from MSC of the predetermined location to VGMLC of the predetermined location. 
     At step  210 , another check is performed to ensure whether a change of area event has occurred for the UE. In various embodiments of the present invention, the MSC monitors location update of the UE and checks the occurrence of the change of area event. In an embodiment of the present invention, the change of area event occurs when the UE enters into the predetermined location. In another embodiment of the present invention, the change of area event occurs when the UE leaves the predetermined location. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the change of area event occurs when the UE stays in the predetermined location. 
     If the change of area event has not occurred for the UE, then at step  214 , location of the target UE is updated at the MSC of the predetermined location and a check is performed to ensure whether a timer has timed out. In various embodiments of the present invention, value of the timer is set by the user managing the LCS Client. If the timer has not timed out, then steps  202 - 210  are repeated. If the timer has timed out, then at step  216 , MSC of the predetermined location sends a message indicating a failure of invocation of change area event for the UE for the predetermined location. 
     If a change of area event has occurred for the UE, then at step  212 , a Subscriber Location Report (SLR) is sent to the VGMLC of the predetermined location. In an embodiment of the present invention, SLR includes the location update details of the UE at a time of occurrence of change of area event. In another embodiment of the present invention, a SLR acknowledgement is received from the VGMLC of the predetermined location by the MSC of the predetermined location. 
     At step  218 , VGMLC of the predetermined location sends a location update report to HGMLC. In various embodiments of the present invention, the location update report is based on the SLR. Finally at step  220 , HGMLC sends the location update report to the LCS Client about the change of area event for the UE. 
     While the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated herein, it will be appreciated that they are merely illustrative. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from or offending the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.