Patent ID: 8509805

Claim:
A method for locating a wireless device operating in a geographic area served by a wireless communications system, comprising: monitoring a set of signaling links of the wireless communications system, wherein said signaling links include at least one radio link between the wireless device and a base transceiver station, wherein said monitoring of said radio link comprises receiving messages on at least one of Random Access Channel (RACH), Access Grant Channel (AGCH), and Standalone Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCH) channels, and wherein said monitoring comprises passively monitoring said set of links such that the operation of said wireless communications system is unaffected by said monitoring; detecting at least one predefined network transaction involving a predefined trigger occurring on at least one of said signaling links; and in response to the detection of said at least one predefined network transaction involving a predefined trigger, initiating at least one predefined location service involving locating said wireless device.