Patent ID: 7130630

Claim:
A method for providing a location query service for use with a wireless network that tracks locations of network users, the method comprising: receiving from a requester a query asking for location information associated with a wireless network user; determining whether the requestor is authorized to receive the requested location information and, if so, retrieving the location information associated with the wireless network user and forwarding the location information to the requestor; if the requestor is unauthorized, determining whether the wireless network user will accept requests to release location information to unauthorized users; if the requestor is unauthorized and the wireless network user is determined not to accept such requests, returning a message to the requestor that the request is denied; if the requestor is unauthorized and the wireless network user is determined to accept such requests, forwarding to the wireless network user the requester identification and the request for the requestor to receive the location information; if the wireless network user chooses not to release the requested location information to the unauthorized requestor, returning a message to the requestor that the request is denied; and if the wireless network user chooses to release the requested location information to the unauthorized user, retrieving the location information associated with the wireless network user and forwarding the location information to the requester.