Methods and apparatus for session control in a networked locationing system

Abstract

A session control method includes establishing a locationing session between a mobile device and a remotely located server over a network, sending information related to the geographical location of the mobile device to the remotely located server after establishing the locationing session, and providing two or more notifications via the mobile device, at predetermined intervals or in response to an event, that the locationing session is active. The user may then validate or invalidate the active session, thereby providing greater control of such information. Additional configuration options are provided to the user in order to control the nature and distribution of such locationing data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A session control method, comprising:
 establishing a locationing session between a mobile device and a remotely located server over a network;   sending information related to the geographical location of the mobile device to the remotely located server after establishing the locationing session; and   providing, via the mobile device, a plurality of notifications after establishing the location session, wherein the plurality of notifications each indicate that the locationing session is active,   wherein the remotely located server is capable of performing re-notification or re-notification and verification for one or more active locationing sessions, and terminating one or more active triggered sessions without waiting for a next report interval.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the plurality of notifications includes presenting a user interface to a user that allows the user to selectively verify the locationing session. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface includes a list of active locationing sessions, and an indicator that at least one of the locationing sessions is active. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the user interface includes a plurality of user interface components configured to allow the user to perform functions selected from the group consisting of terminating one or more active locationing sessions; periodically generating an indicator that the locationing session is active; adjusting a default re-notification and/or re-verification interval; setting the maximum locationing session duration; limiting the number of active locationing sessions; automatically terminating the locationing session when connection with the remotely located server has been lost; generating an indicator that location information is delivered to the remotely located server; generating a log of information sent during the locationing session; and sending an external report of the locationing session via the network. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the indicator is selected from the group consisting of visual cues and audio cues. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of notifications are provided periodically or in response to an event. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the remotely located server and the mobile device are configured to communicate in accordance with a Secure User Plane Location protocol. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further including:
 sending a notify message from the remotely located server to the mobile device;   in response to the notify message, providing the notification to a user;   waiting for user input either validating or declining validation of the locationing session;   providing a report message to the remotely located server in response to the user input.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the locationing session is established by the mobile device, or in response to a message from the remotely located server. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the notification is periodic, and has a rate specified by the remotely located server. 
     
     
         11 . A mobile device comprising:
 a processor;   a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;   a display communicatively coupled to the processor;   at least one user input device communicatively coupled to the processor; and   a transceiver communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to establish a locationing session with a remotely located server over a network;   wherein the processor is configured to provide a user interface for displaying a plurality of notifications that the locationing session is active, and   wherein the mobile device allows the remotely located server to perform re-notification or re-notification and verification for one or more active locationing sessions, and terminate one or more active triggered sessions without waiting for a next report interval.   
     
     
         12 . The mobile device of  claim 11 , wherein the user interface further allows a user to selectively validate or invalidate, via the at least one input device, the locationing session. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile device of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of notifications includes an indicator selected from the group consisting of visual cues and audio cues. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile device of  claim 11 , wherein the mobile device is configured to communicate in accordance with a Secure User Plane Location protocol. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile device of  claim 11 , wherein the locationing session is established in response to a message from the remotely located server. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile device of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 provide the plurality of notifications to the user, via the display, in response to a notify message received from the remotely located server,   wait for user input via the at least one input device either validating or declining validation of the locationing session;   providing a report message to the remotely located server in response to the user input.   
     
     
         17 . A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer-readable program code embodied therein, the computer-readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for generating a user interface, the method comprising:
 establishing a locationing session with a remotely located server over a network;   sending information related to the geographical location of the mobile device to the remotely located server after establishing the locationing session; and   providing a notification via the mobile device, at predetermined intervals or in response to an event, that the locationing session is active,   wherein the remotely located server is capable of performing re-notification or re-notification and verification for one or more active locationing sessions, and terminating one or more active triggered sessions without waiting for a next report interval.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein providing the notification includes presenting a user interface to a user that allows the user to selectively validate the locationing session. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the user interface includes a list of active locationing sessions, and an indicator that at least one of the locationing sessions is active. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the mobile device is configured to communicate in accordance with a Secure User Plane Location protocol.