Network and method for monitoring location capabilities of a mobile station

Abstract

The present invention is a communication network ( 100 ) and method for monitoring location capabilities of mobile stations ( 102 ) in a database ( 120 ) of a communication network. Initially, the network receives an identification number from a mobile station ( 102 ). If the database ( 120 ) does not include a location capability corresponding to the identification number, then a processor ( 118 ) requests the location capability from the mobile station ( 102 ) and stores the requested location capability in the database ( 120 ). The location capability includes one or more of the following capabilities: an autonomous mode capability, an assisted mode capability and a legacy mode capability. To retrieve an entry from the database ( 120 ), the network reads the location capability corresponding to the identification number from the database ( 120 ). The network then assembles an assistance message based on the location capability of the mobile station ( 102 ) and transmits the assistance message to the mobile station ( 102 ).

1 .- 21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . A method for monitoring location capabilities of mobile stations using a communication network, the communication network including a database for storing the location capabilities, the method comprising the steps of: 
 communicating between the communication network and a mobile station during an initial session comprising the sub-steps of: 
 receiving an identification number from a mobile station;  
 storing a location capability of the mobile station in the database, the location capability corresponding to the identification number of the mobile station;  
 assembling a first assistance message based on the location capability of the mobile station; and  
 transmitting the first assistance message to the mobile station; and  
   communicating between the communication network and a mobile station during a subsequent session comprising the sub-steps of: 
 receiving the identification number from the mobile station;  
 retrieving the location capability of the mobile station from the database, the location capability corresponding to the identification number of the mobile station;  
 assembling a second assistance message based on the location capability of the mobile station; and  
 transmitting the second assistance message to the mobile station.  
   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second assistance messages including location calculation parameters of the mobile station.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the location capability is one of an autonomous mode capability, an assisted mode capability and a legacy mode capability.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein each step of receiving the identification number includes the step of receiving a location request.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of receiving the location capability from the mobile station before the step of storing the location capability of the mobile station in the database.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the step of requesting the location capability from the mobile station before the step of receiving the location capability from the mobile station.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a response to the first assistance message after transmitting the first assistance message to the mobile station; and    updating an operation mode of the mobile station in the database based on the response, the operation mode being one of an autonomous mode, an assisted mode and a legacy mode.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the steps of: 
 determining whether the mobile station is in an autonomous mode; and    bypassing the steps of assembling the first assistance message and transmitting the first assistance message if the mobile station is in the autonomous mode.