User plane location services over session initiation protocol (SIP)

Abstract

A method and mechanism to allow a location server to initiate a user plane location service (e.g., SUPL defined by OMA) procedure to a user plane enabled device via Instant Messaging, or alternatively, via an existing SIP session if a multimedia session is already established. The location request is signaled to the user plane enabled device via a SIP INFO message. The location request uses SIP messaging to overcome firewall and other network security issues. Location using SUPL over SIP may be provided about a caller making an E911 emergency call. An Instant Message may be sent to the user plane enabled device, e.g., a VoIP wireless phone.

1 . A method for obtaining a location of a subscriber, comprising:
 initiating a user plane location service procedure; and   if a session initiation protocol (SIP) session already exists, signaling a location request to a user plane enabled subscriber device via session initiation protocol (SIP).   
     
     
         2 . A method for obtaining a location of a subscriber, comprising:
 initiating a user plane location service procedure via XMPP protocol.   
     
     
         3 . The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said location request is signaled to said user plane enabled subscriber device via a SIP INFO message.   
     
     
         4 . The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said location request uses SIP messaging as a transport message of said user plane location service procedure to overcome an issue otherwise introduced by network security.   
     
     
         5 . The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 said issue otherwise introduced by network security is a firewall.   
     
     
         6 . The method for obtaining a location of a caller according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a call relating to said caller is an emergency call.   
     
     
         7 . The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to  claim 1 , wherein said initiating comprises:
 sending an Instant Message to said user plane enabled subscriber device.   
     
     
         8 . The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said user plane enabled caller device is a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone.   
     
     
         9 . The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 said VoIP phone is a wireless VoIP phone.   
     
     
         10 . The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said user plane location service procedure complies with a secure user plane for location (SUPL) standard defined by Open Mobile Alliance (OMA).   
     
     
         11 . Apparatus for obtaining a location of a subscriber, comprising:
 means for initiating a user plane location service procedure; and   means for signaling a location request, if a session initiation protocol (SIP) session already exists, to a user plane enabled subscriber device via session initiation protocol (SIP).   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 said means for signaling said location request signals to said user plane enabled subscriber device via a SIP INFO message.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 said means for signaling said location request uses SIP messaging as a transport message of said user plane location service procedure to overcome an issue otherwise introduced by network security.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 said issue otherwise introduced by network security is a firewall.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus for obtaining a location of a caller according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 a call relating to said caller is an emergency call.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to  claim 11 , wherein said means for initiating comprises:
 means for sending an Instant Message to said user plane enabled subscriber device.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 said user plane enabled caller device is a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 said VoIP phone is a wireless VoIP phone.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 said user plane location service procedure complies with a secure user plane for location (SUPL) standard defined by Open Mobile Alliance (OMA).   
     
     
         20 . A method for obtaining a location of a subscriber, comprising:
 determining if a multimedia session is already established with a subscriber; and   obtaining updated location information of said subscriber via an existing session initiation protocol (SIP) session if a multimedia session is already established with said subscriber.   
     
     
         21 . Apparatus for obtaining a location of a subscriber, comprising:
 means for determining if a multimedia session is already established with a subscriber; and   means for obtaining updated location information of said subscriber via an existing session initiation protocol (SIP) session if a multimedia session is already established with said subscriber.   
     
     
         22 . A method for determining whether a target device is in a conventional mobile network, comprising:
 examining an identifier of a target device.   
     
     
         23 . A method for seamlessly interworking with a mobile network and a wireless IP network, comprising:
 initiating a WAP Push/SMS message; and   initiating a presence service/Instant Message.   
     
     
         24 . The method for seamlessly interworking with a mobile network and said wireless IP network according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 said WAP Push/SMS message and said presence service/Instant Message are performed in parallel.   
     
     
         25 . The method for seamlessly interworking with a mobile network and said wireless IP network according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 said WAP Push/SMS message and said presence service/Instant Message are performed one after the other.