Monitoring boundary crossings in a wireless network

Abstract

A process ( 400 ) according to one implementation of the present invention is initiated by receiving ( 402 ) a service zone definition for a boundary crossing. The boundary crossings application further receives ( 404 ) a monitoring request. For example, a vehicle rental company may enter the MIN/ESN of all mobile units associated with vehicles that are to be monitored, the timeframes during which the vehicles are to be monitored and the specific zones or boundaries with respect to which vehicle movement is to be monitored. Movements of the mobile unit or units of interest can then be monitored by receiving and storing ( 406 ) current location information, retrieving ( 408 ) prior location information for the mobile unit or units, and using ( 410 ) the current and prior location information to determine whether a service zone boundary has been crossed during the intervening time interval. Once a determination is made ( 412 ) as to whether a boundary crossing has occurred, the boundary crossing application may continue monitoring mobile unit location/movement and/or may generate ( 414 ) service information according to application parameters. The service information is then transmitted ( 416 ) according to application parameters. Such application parameters may specify the recipient, content and format of the service information.

1 . A method for use in providing services based on the locations of mobile units in a wireless communications network, said wireless network including a switch structure for use in selectively routing communications between network users and a processing platform associated with the switch structure, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a location based services application running, at least in part, on the processing platform associated with the switch structure;    defining at least one geographic reference for said location based services application;    storing an identifier for a mobile unit of interest to a user;    monitoring a location of said mobile unit, using said location based services application and said identifier of said mobile unit, to identify an attainment of a predetermined relationship of said mobile unit relative to said geographic reference, said attainment being defined by a change of status with respect to said predetermined relationship; and    transmitting service information regarding said mobile unit in response to said attainment of said predetermined relationship of said mobile unit relative to said geographic reference.    
     
     
         2 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said step of defining said geographic reference comprises receiving subscriber specific information from said user regarding said geographic reference and said step of storing comprises indexing information regarding said geographical reference to said identifier.  
     
     
         3 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said step of defining comprises identifying a geographical area for which said user desires to receive notification upon one of: 
 a) entry of said mobile unit into said identified geographical area; and    b) exit of said mobile unit from said identified geographical area; and said step of transmitting comprises providing notification to said user of said boundary crossing event.    
     
     
         4 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said step of defining comprises receiving zone location information regarding a service zone referenced to a first topology system and expressing said zone location information in terms of a second topology system of said location based services application.  
     
     
         5 . A method as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said first topology system comprises a street grid.  
     
     
         6 . A method as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said second topology system comprises one of a geographical coordinate system and a system of wireless network subdivision identifiers.  
     
     
         7 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said step of providing a location based services application comprises providing an application for allowing a person of authority to monitor the movements of one of a person or a vehicle associated with said mobile unit.  
     
     
         8 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said step of providing a location based services application comprises providing an application for setting a billing parameter for use of said wireless network by said mobile unit.  
     
     
         9 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said step of monitoring comprises storing first location information regarding a first location of said mobile unit at a first time, obtaining second location information regarding a second location of said mobile unit at a second time and comparing said first location information to said second location information to identify said attainment of said predetermined relationship.  
     
     
         10 . A method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said first location information comprises a first zone identifier for a particular service zone and said second location information comprises a second zone identifier for a particular service zone, and said step of comparing comprises determining whether said first zone identifier is the same as said second zone identifier.  
     
     
         11 . A method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said step of monitoring further comprises defining a geometrical element interconnecting a first location of said first location information and a second location of said second location information and determining whether there is an intersection between said geometrical element and a boundary of a service zone.  
     
     
         12 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said unit is a telephone and said step of storing an identifier comprises storing an MIN/ESN.  
     
     
         13 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said step of transmitting service information comprises transmitting said service information to said mobile unit.  
     
     
         14 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said step of transmitting service information comprises transmitting said service information to a data network node associated with said subscriber, said data network node being separate from said mobile unit.  
     
     
         15 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said step of transmitting service information comprises transmitting said service information to a separate application that is registered with said location based services application to receive boundary crossing information regarding said mobile unit.  
     
     
         16 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said step of transmitting service information comprises transmitting a message to said user providing notice of a boundary crossing event.  
     
     
         17 . A method as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein said message comprises one of a voice, text or graphical message.  
     
     
         18 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said step of transmitting service information comprises transmitting one of local service information and local emergency condition information to said mobile unit.  
     
     
         19 . A method for use in providing services, based on the locations of mobile units in a wireless network, comprising the steps of: 
 establishing a location based services system, including a processing platform and data storage associated with the processing platform;    said location based services system being interconnected to a network location finding system for receiving network location information therefrom regarding the location of the mobile units within the wireless network, said network location finding system being operative for determining said network location information regarding said mobile units based on locations of the mobile units and known locations of network structure in said wireless network;    said location based services system further being interconnected to a system user via a communication network including a switch structure for routing communications based on an address whereby user information can be transmitted from said location based services system to said user by associating said user information with a user address;    said location based services system further being associated with a data input port for receiving information for storage in said data storage and for use by said location based services system;    first receiving, via said data input port, service zone information identifying a geographic service zone including at least one service zone boundary;    first storing said service zone information in said data storage of said location based service system;    second receiving, via said data input port, an identifier identifying a mobile unit of interest to said system user;    second storing said identifier in said data storage of said location based service system;    third receiving, from said network location finding system, said network location information including mobile unit location information regarding said mobile unit of interest;    third storing said mobile unit location information in said data storage of said location based service system;    first operating said location based service system to 1) monitor locations of said mobile unit of interest over a time period, 2) make a comparison based on one or more of said monitored locations of mobile unit location to said service zone boundary, and 3) based on said comparison, identify a crossing of said service zone boundary by said mobile unit of interest; and    second operating said location based service system to 1) generate service information in response to said identified crossing of said service zone boundary, 2) establish a user communication including said service information and information identifying said user address, and 3) transmitting said user communication to said system user;    wherein said system user receives service information triggered by said crossing of said service zone boundary.