Positioning protocol conveyance

Abstract

Techniques for selecting positioning protocols consistent with the capabilities of the location server in a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) based service are described. The SUPL Location Platform (SLP) transmits the service capabilities of the SLP, such as the positioning protocol capabilities of the SLP. The SLP transmits its capabilities of the SLP in an initiation message to the SUPL enabled terminal (SET) or after receiving an initiation message from the SET. The SET may transmit a positioning initiation message and the SLP and SET communicate to determinate one or more position estimates for the SET. The SET may include in the positioning initiation message a positioning protocol positioning message that is consistent with the SLP service capabilities.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor configured to:   receive a request from a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent for position estimates for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET);   provide an initiation message to a SUPL Location Platform (SLP) to start a location session, the initiation message including service capabilities of the SET;   receive from the SLP service capabilities of the SLP, wherein the SLP service capabilities of the SLP are received without a preceding request for the SLP service capabilities of the SLP;   communicate with the SLP to determine at least one position estimate for the SET; and   provide to the SUPL agent at least one position estimate for the SET.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the SLP service capabilities received from the SLP include positioning protocol capabilities of the SLP. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the positioning protocol capabilities of the SLP are at least one of LPP, LPPe or TIA-801. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide to the SLP a positioning initiation message that includes a positioning message using a positioning protocol that is within the positioning protocol capabilities of the SLP. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the initiation message further includes a quality of position. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive an intended positioning method from the SLP with the service capabilities of the SLP. 
     
     
         7 . An method comprising:
 receiving a request from a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent for position estimates for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET);   providing an initiation message to a SUPL Location Platform (SLP) to start a location session, the initiation message including service capabilities of the SET;   receiving from the SLP service capabilities of the SLP, wherein the SLP service capabilities of the SLP are received without a preceding request for the SLP service capabilities of the SLP;   communicating with the SLP to determine at least one position estimate for the SET; and   providing to the SUPL agent at least one position estimate for the SET.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the SLP service capabilities received from the SLP include positioning protocol capabilities of the SLP. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the positioning protocol capabilities of the SLP are at least one of LPP, LPPe or TIA-801. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising providing to the SLP a positioning initiation message that includes a positioning message using a positioning protocol that is within the positioning protocol capabilities of the SLP. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the initiation message further includes a quality of position. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising receiving an intended positioning method from the SLP with the service capabilities of the SLP. 
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 means for receiving a request from a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent for position estimates for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET);   means for providing an initiation message to a SUPL Location Platform (SLP) to start a location session, the initiation message including service capabilities of the SET;   means for receiving from the SLP service capabilities of the SLP, wherein the SLP service capabilities of the SLP are received without a preceding request for the SLP service capabilities of the SLP;   means for communicating with the SLP to determine at least one position estimate for the SET; and   means for providing to the SUPL agent at least one position estimate for the SET.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the SLP service capabilities received from the SLP include positioning protocol capabilities of the SLP. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the positioning protocol capabilities of the SLP are at least one of LPP, LPPe or TIA-801. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising means for providing to the SLP a positioning initiation message that includes a positioning message using a positioning protocol that is within the positioning protocol capabilities of the SLP. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the initiation message further includes a quality of position. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising means for receiving an intended positioning method from the SLP with the service capabilities of the SLP. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code stored thereon, comprising:
 program code to receive a request from a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent for position estimates for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET);   program code to provide an initiation message to a SUPL Location Platform (SLP) to start a location session, the initiation message including service capabilities of the SET;   program code to receive from the SLP service capabilities of the SLP, wherein the SLP service capabilities of the SLP are received without a preceding request for the SLP service capabilities of the SLP;   program code to communicate with the SLP to determine at least one position estimate for the SET; and   program code to provide to the SUPL agent at least one position estimate for the SET.   
     
     
         20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the SLP service capabilities received from the SLP include positioning protocol capabilities of the SLP. 
     
     
         21 . The computer readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein the positioning protocol capabilities of the SLP are at least one of LPP, LPPe or TIA-801. 
     
     
         22 . The computer readable medium of  claim 20 , further comprising program code to provide to the SLP a positioning initiation message that includes a positioning message using a positioning protocol that is within the positioning protocol capabilities of the SLP. 
     
     
         23 . The computer readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the initiation message further includes a quality of position. 
     
     
         24 . The computer readable medium of  claim 19 , further comprising program code to receive an intended positioning method from the SLP with the service capabilities of the SLP.