Enhanced PDE selection

Abstract

A method and apparatus for managing the selection of location information sources (e.g., position determining equipment sites and handset-based location finding capabilities) to provide location information for a mobile communications unit (e.g., a cellular phone) are disclosed. Embedded within a request for location information on a particular mobile communications unit are one or more specifications regarding the quality of the requested location information. Such specifications is used to determine if any location information sources are able to provide the location information with the desired location information quality. Upon locating a location information source capable of providing the requested location information, the source is invoked to provide the particular location information. Once the location information is provided by the location information source, it is provided to the requesting party.

1 . A method for use in providing location information regarding mobile units in a mobile communications system, said method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a request for location information for a first Mobile unit, said request identifying said first mobile unit and further including at least a first specification regarding a quality of said requested location information;    based on said first specification, selecting at least one location information source capable of providing responsive location information for said first mobile unit;    obtaining said responsive location information from said selected location information source, wherein said responsive information at least substantially conforms to said first specification regarding said quality of said requested location information; and    providing said responsive location information to a selected location based on said request.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a first indication of the general location of said first mobile unit; and    using said general location of said first mobile unit in said selecting step to identify location information sources in a proximity of said mobile unit such that one of said identified location information sources may provide said responsive location information.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said first indication of the general location of said mobile unit is a standard identifier utilized by said mobile communications system.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said standard identifier comprises at least one of a cell identifier and a cell sector identifier utilized by said mobile communications system.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of selecting further comprises selecting at least one location information source from a plurality of location information sources operable to provide said responsive location information.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of location information sources comprises one of a database containing responsive location information and equipment associated with the mobile communications system operable to obtain responsive location information.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said step of selecting further comprises utilizing a default specification to select between multiple acceptable location sources, where each of said multiple acceptable location sources is capable of obtaining location information at least substantially conforming to said first specification.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of obtaining further comprises invoking said selected location information source to provide said responsive location information.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said specification establishes a priority for selecting said location information source to provide responsive location information for a particular request.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said priority is established by a last in first out command.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said specification specifies a particular type of location information source for use in providing said responsive location information.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said specification regarding a quality of said requested location information is related to a geographical accuracy for said responsive location information.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said specification regarding a quality of said requested location information is related to an acceptable cost associated with said responsive location information.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said specification regarding a quality of said requested location information is related to an allowable age of said responsive location information.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said specification regarding a quality of said requested location information is related to acceptable response times to provide said responsive location information.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said receiving step further comprises correlating said specification to a corresponding value associated with said location information sources.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said correlating step involves correlating said specification to an average value associated a plurality of location information sources.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said correlating step involves correlating said specification to a first value associated with an individual location information source.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said selecting step comprises consulting at least a first database in which information associated with said location information sources is stored.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said selecting step further comprises consulting at least a first database in which information regarding location determining abilities of said position location information sources are stored such that only location information sources capable of providing said responsive location information are selected.