WO2018215248A1

WO2018215248A1 - A method, in a telecommunications system, for alerting a trusted party of a location of user equipment, a base station and a telecommunications system

Info

Publication number: WO2018215248A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/062620
Authority: WO
Inventors: Balraj SINGH BABRA
Original assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date: 2017-05-22
Filing date: 2018-05-15
Publication date: 2018-11-29

Abstract

A method, in a telecommunications system, for alerting a trusted party of a location of user equipment in the event of a loss of communication between the user equipment and a base station, the method comprising providing a set of contact details for a set of trusted parties, maintaining a log of user equipment location relative to the base station and transmitting a message to one or more of the trusted parties a preconfigured period of time after a loss of communication between the user equipment and the base station.

Description

A METHOD, IN A TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM, FOR ALERTING A TRUSTED PARTY OF A LOCATION OF USER EQUIPMENT, A BASE STATION AND A

TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM TECHNICAL FIELD

Aspects relate, in general, to a method, in a telecommunications system, for alerting a trusted party of a location of user equipment, a base station and a telecommunications system.

BACKGROUND

In telecommunications systems, user equipment may be able to send and receive messages using one of a number of different messaging protocols. For example, SMS (short message service) is a text-based communication service that enables bidirectional transmission of alphanumeric text messages to and from user equipment. Other messaging protocols may be used such as a multimedia message service (MMS) or email and so on.

Such message services may be used to provide a user with an alert indicating that a voice call, for example, has been missed, which may occur when the user is engaged on another call or activity or when the user equipment is out of network communication coverage or otherwise incapable of receiving message data, such as when powered off for example.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect there is provided a method, in a telecommunications system, for alerting a trusted party of a location of user equipment in the event of a loss of communication between the user equipment and a base station, the method comprising: providing a set of contact details for a set of trusted parties; maintaining a log of user equipment location relative to the base station; and transmitting a message to one or more of the trusted parties a preconfigured period of time after a loss of communication between the user equipment and the base station. The message may comprise one or more of: an identifier associated with a user of the user equipment; a last known location of the user equipment derived from the log of user equipment location; and a time stamp representing the time of loss of communication between the user equipment and the base station. The method may comprise augmenting the last known location of the user equipment with data received at the base station from a GPS module of the user equipment. The method may comprise logging a condition of the user equipment prior to the loss of communication to determine a reason for the loss of communication; and providing data representing the condition of the user equipment as part of the message. The method may comprise determining whether the loss of communication occurred as a result of the user equipment being powered down manually or due to a power source depletion or as a result of a hardware and/or software malfunction.

The method may comprise modifying the set of contact details for the set of trusted parties using the user equipment.

The method may comprise storing the set of contact details for the set of trusted parties at a home location register of the system. According to a second aspect there is provided a base station in a telecommunications network, the base station configured to: transmit a message to one or more trusted parties a preconfigured period of time after a loss of communication between user equipment and the base station using a set of contact details for the trusted parties, whereby to inform a trusted party of a location of the user equipment prior to the loss of communication between the user equipment and the base station.

According to a third aspect there is provided a telecommunications system, comprising: a mobile switching centre to store a set of contact details for a set of trusted parties; and a base station node to: determine a location of user equipment relative to the base station; maintain a log of historic user equipment locations; and transmit a message to one or more of the trusted parties a preconfigured period of time after a loss of communication between user equipment and the base station using a set of contact details for the trusted parties, the message including a last location of the user equipment prior to the loss of communication between the user equipment and the base station.

The system may be configured to augment the last known location of the user equipment with data received at the base station from a GPS module of the user equipment.

The system may be configured to determine a condition of the user equipment prior to the loss of communication to determine a reason for the loss of communication; and providing data representing the condition of the user equipment as part of the message. The mobile switching centre may be configured to receive an initial or modified list of contact details from the user equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the

accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a telecommunications system according to an example; Figure 2a is a schematic representation of a system according to an example; Figure 2b is a flow chart of a method according to an example;

Figure 3a is a schematic representation of a method to update a contact list in Home Location Register (HLR) 207 according to an example; and

Figure 3b is a schematic representation of a method to provide additional information according to an example. DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments are described below in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.

Accordingly, while embodiments can be modified in various ways and take on various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below as examples. There is no intent to limit to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included. Elements of the example embodiments are consistently denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and detailed description where appropriate.

The terminology used herein to describe embodiments is not intended to limit the scope. The articles "a," "an," and "the" are singular in that they have a single referent, however the use of the singular form in the present document should not preclude the presence of more than one referent. In other words, elements referred to in the singular can number one or more, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," and/or "including," when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, items, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, items, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

While discussing the user in embodiments, it may be understood to refer to a user device or equipment in general, associated with a user or several different users or user accounts. For example, notifications may be sent to, and received by, a user device. If a user is using such a device, and is authorized to access the notification sent to the device, the notification, alert, or similar, may be provided to the user.

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a telecommunications system according to an example. In system 100, user equipment 103 can be in communication with a base station 105, providing bidirectional communications 104 between the user equipment 103 and the core network 109. The base station can provide network coverage over a region, also known as a cell, 107.

Outside of this region, user equipment 103 may be unable to send or receive data until it either comes back into range of the base station 105 or is handed over to another network base station (not shown).

Typically, core network 109 can log the location of user equipment 103 on the basis of the base station 105 that the user equipment is communicatively coupled to. This can therefore provide a broad indication of the location of the user equipment 103 at a given time, as it may be inferred that, in order for it to be communicating with the base station 105, it will be somewhere within the cell 107. In addition, user equipment 103 may include a GPS module 106 that may be used to provide a more accurate measure of location. In an example, the position of user equipment 103 may be stored at the base station 105 and/or within the network 109, and the location can include data from GPS module 106. Thus, since a base station tends to track the movement of user equipment, including when there is a loss of communication, this can be used to provide information a set of trusted third parties as to the whereabouts of user equipment prior to loss of communication.

According to an example, there is provided a method, in a telecommunications system 100, for alerting a trusted party of a location of user equipment 103 in the event of a loss of

communication between the user equipment 103 and a base station 105. In response to a loss of communication an alert can be transmitted to one or more trusted parties. The alert can provide information relating to the last known location of the user equipment that has lost communication, and may include amplified data including a reason for communication loss, such as a user switching user equipment off or user equipment losing power for example, and/or more precise location information derived from data received from a GPS module 106 of user equipment.

In an example, contact details for a set of trusted parties can be provided. For example, a user can input data relating to or select an information entry in a repository of connections of one or more trusted parties. The user can enter or select information on user equipment directly or via a web-based portal that can enable a user to create, update or modify contact details for a set of trusted parties. The trusted parties are those selected to receive an alert as described above.

In an example, a log of user equipment location relative to the base station 105 can be maintained. This may be maintained at either or both of the base station 105 and network 109. In the event of a loss of communication between the user equipment 103 and the base station 105, a message can be transmitted to one or more of the trusted parties a preconfigured period of time after the loss. In this way, one or more trusted parties can be provided with the last known location of a user just prior to a loss of communication between user equipment and the network. In an example, the last known location of user equipment 103 may be derived from its position relative to two or more base stations 105 using triangulation or trilateration.

In an example, an alert can be transmitted after a predetermined period of time following loss of communication. For example, since the loss of communication may be temporary as a user moves from one point to another, thereby moving out of range of one base station and into range of another, an immediate transmission of an alert may be undesirable. Thus, in an example, a loss of communication can persist for a period of time between several second to up to several minutes before an alert may be issued.

A loss of communication can occur as a result of user equipment powering down (e.g. being switched off or loss of battery power) or the user equipment going out of range of the network. Accordingly, when user equipment gets switched on/off, an emergency contact list can receive a message or alert, such as an SMS for example, from the network operator. The information in the message can vary depending on the capabilities of the user equipment, such as whether it has a GPS module and so on.

In an example, an alert can include data indicating that and/or when user equipment has been switched off, if this was the cause of the loss of communication between the user equipment and the network. Thus, an alert when user equipment switches off/on can be sent to a trusted list of phone numbers (for e.g. family members) to know the whereabouts of the user. The alert can include details about location of the user equipment, when the user equipment was switched off or on and so on. This would help family members and the police in case of any emergency. As noted above, a network provider can track the location of user equipment based on its proximity to one or more base stations. Using an identifier associated with the user equipment, such as a phone number and/or IMEI for example, the Mobile Country Code, Mobile Network Code, Location Area Code and base station ID can be determined. The mobile user could edit the trusted phone list via SMS/Mobile/Web application. Any time the mobile phone switches off/on, the trusted phone users would get to know the location of the mobile phone at that point of time. This is not for real time tracking of the mobile user, for which GPS is a better option.

According to an example, a Home Location Register (HLR) 111, present in the core network 109 of a system, is the main database of permanent subscriber information for the network. It is an integral part of all types of mobile communication network, such as

CDMA/GSM/UMTS/LTE and contains pertinent user information, including address, account status, and preferences and so on. The HLR 111 interacts with the Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 113, which is a switch used for call control and processing. A mobile user can edit a trusted parties list 115 using either SMS 116 or an operator mobile application 117 or web application 118. Any addition/deletion of, for example, phone numbers in this list would update the HLR database 111.

When the base station 105 loses communication with the user equipment 103 it can wait for a specified time (which is configurable), before it considers the mobile user unreachable/out of communication. Even if the user equipment goes to a roaming mode of operation, a visitor location register (VLR), not shown, tends to communicate with HLR 111. Hence, a cellular network provider would get to know that communication with the user is lost. Post communication loss, the MSC 113 can check the trusted list configured by the mobile user. It can then send, for example, an SMS to all the trusted mobile users with one or more of the following information, based on the base station 105 capability: a) Mobile Number/Mobile User Name

b) Area Name

c) Time Stamp indicating user equipment switch on/off state Based on user equipment capability, an operator could extract more information, that can be part of an alert. For example, a smart Phone with an Operator Mobile Application/data connection can provide the reason for user equipment switch on/off (e.g. manually switched off, or deletion of battery). It can also track last GPS location, if enabled at the time of switch on/off. In an example, exposed user equipment APIs can be leveraged in order to determine this additional information that can be used to augment an alert.

Examples of information that can be used to augment an alert message are: - Reason for switch on/off: Power button pressed, Low battery, Hardware/Software

anomaly

Last GPS location: This information would be shown only if the GPS module was in enabled state during user equipment switch on/off operation.

Extra information retrieval may require a user giving necessary permission to the mobile operator.

Examples of still further extra information may include any information the user has provided to the service and indicated as data to be included in an alert message. For example, the service may provide for entering a time window and an associated general description of a travel plan or route, either by the user input or via an application such as a navigation application in the user device. The indication may be, for example, explicit, or a generic access permission for the service to use various data related to the user and/or the user device.

Figure 2a is a schematic representation of a system according to an example. In common with figure 1, user equipment 201, e.g. for a mobile user, is communicatively coupled to a base station 203 linked to a MSC 205 of the system. The MSC 205 is linked to HLR 207 and an SMS centre 209 that can prepare SMS messages for transmission using base station 203. The HLR includes a relational database 211 that includes a set of contact details 213 for a set of trusted parties, which can be in the form of a list of mobile numbers for the trusted parties for example.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art. It will be further understood that terms in common usage should also be interpreted as is customary in the relevant art and not in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Figure 2b is a flow chart of a method according to an example. At block 250 user equipment 201, e.g. a mobile phone, is switched on or off. The base station 203 determines at block 251 that communication with the user equipment has been lost. As result of the loss of

communication, and after a predetermined period of time, the MSC 205 can check a list of trusted parties in HLR 207 in block 253, and in block 255 the SMS centre 209 can be used to send a message alerting the parties using the communication details found in the list 213 in the database 211 of the HLR 207. The alert can include the last known location of the user equipment along with a timestamp to indicate when the loss of communication occurred.

Figure 3a is a schematic representation of a method to update a contact list in HLR 207 according to an example. A mobile user 301 can transmit a message 303, such as an SMS message for example, with a list of contact information for trusted parties. This can be used by the network to create, augment or modify a list in the HLR database, as shown in block 307. Similarly, the information can be provided using a mobile or web application as shown in block 305.

Figure 3b is a schematic representation of a method to provide additional information according to an example. In response to a switch on or off action at a user device in block 350 an operator application in block 351 can trigger the collection or generation of data representing a reason for the action in block 353 along with, optionally, GPS data. This can be provided to the HLR in block 355.

The present inventions can be embodied in other specific apparatus and/or methods. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. In particular, the scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the description and figures herein. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1. A method, in a telecommunications system, for alerting a trusted party of a location of user equipment in the event of a loss of communication between the user equipment and a base station, the method comprising:

providing a set of contact details for a set of trusted parties;

determining a location of the user equipment relative to a base station;

maintaining a log of historic user equipment locations

; and

transmitting a message to one or more of the trusted parties a preconfigured period of time after a loss of communication between the user equipment and the base station.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the message comprises one or more of:

an identifier associated with a user of the user equipment;

a last known location of the user equipment derived from the log of user equipment location; and

a time stamp representing the time of loss of communication between the user equipment and the base station.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

augmenting the last known location of the user equipment with data received at the base station from a GPS module of the user equipment.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2 or 3, further comprising:

logging a condition of the user equipment prior to the loss of communication to determine a reason for the loss of communication; and

providing data representing the condition of the user equipment as part of the message.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising determining whether the loss of communication occurred as a result of the user equipment being powered down manually or due to a power source depletion or as a result of a hardware and/or software malfunction.

6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising:

modifying the set of contact details for the set of trusted parties using the user equipment.

7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising: storing the set of contact details for the set of trusted parties at a home location register of the system.

8. A base station in a telecommunications network, the base station configured to:

transmit a message to one or more trusted parties a preconfigured period of time after a loss of communication between user equipment and the base station using a set of contact details for the trusted parties, whereby to inform a trusted party of a last known location of the user equipment prior to the loss of communication between the user equipment and the base station.

9. A telecommunications system, comprising:

a mobile switching centre to store a set of contact details for a set of trusted parties; and a base station node;

the system configured to:

determine a location of user equipment relative to the base station;

maintain a log of historic user equipment locations; and

transmit a message to one or more of the trusted parties a preconfigured period of time after a loss of communication between user equipment and the base station.

10. The system of claim 9, transmitting the message using a set of contact details for the trusted parties, the message comprising one or more of:

an identifier associated with a user of the user equipment;

a last known location of the user equipment derived from the log of user equipment locations; and

11. A telecommunications system as claimed in claims 9-10, the system configured to augment the last known location of the user equipment with data received at the base station from a GPS module of the user equipment.

12. A telecommunications system as claimed in claims 9-11, the system configured to determine a condition of the user equipment prior to the loss of communication to determine a reason for the loss of communication; and

13. A telecommunications system as claimed in any of claims 9-12, wherein the mobile switching centre is configured to receive an initial or modified list of contact details from the user equipment.