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 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a mobile device, an instant message that includes a location request for the wireless device;   initiating, by the mobile device, a User Plane Location Service session with a location server in response to the instant message; and   providing, by the mobile device, location information for the mobile device to the location server via the User Plane Location Services session.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the location information characterizes a current location of the mobile device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the instant message is sent from an instant message server in response to a request from the location server. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the instant message is provided by the location server. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the initiating further comprises:
 sending, by the mobile device, a request to establish the User Plane Location Services session via an established Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the initiating further comprises:
 sending, by the mobile device, a request to establish the User Plane Location Services session via an Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP).   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the initiating further comprises:
 sending, by the mobile device, a request to establish the User Plane Location Services session via a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) session.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the initiating further comprises:
 sending, by the mobile device, a request to establish the User Plane Location Services session via a User Datagram Protocol/Internet Protocol (UDP/IP) session.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the instant message is a short message service (SMS) message. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the instant message includes information to trigger the User Plane Location Services session. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the instant message includes information to trigger the User Plane Location Services session. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 sending a status update for the mobile device to a presence server, wherein the instant message is provided in response to the status update.   
     
     
         14 . A mobile computing device comprising:
 a memory that stores machine readable instructions; and   at least one processor that accesses the memory and executes the machine readable instructions, the machine readable instructions causing the mobile computing device to:
 receive an instant message that includes a location request for the wireless device; 
 initiate a User Plane Location Service session with a location server in response to the instant message; and 
 provide location information for the mobile device to the location server via the User Plane Location Services session. 
   
     
     
         15 . The mobile computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the initiating comprises:
 providing a request to establish the User Plane Location Services session via an established Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session.   
     
     
         16 . The mobile computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the initiating comprises:
 sending a request to establish the User Plane Location Services session via a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) session.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the instant message is a short message service (SMS) message. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the machine readable instructions cause the mobile device to:
 send a status update to a presence server, wherein the instant message is provided in response to the status update.   
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory machine readable medium having machine executable instructions, the machine executable instructions causing a mobile device to:
 receive an instant message that includes information for triggering a User Plane Location Services procedure;   initiate a User Plane Location Services session with a location server in response to receipt of the instant message; and   provide location information characterizing a current location of the wireless device to the location server via the User Plane Location Services session.   
     
     
         20 . The medium of  claim 19 , wherein the instant message is a Short Message Services (SMS) message. 
     
     
         21 . The medium of  claim 19 , wherein the initiation of the User Plane Location Services is sent via a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session.