Mechanisms are provided to implement a privacy enhanced location service for determining a granularity of location information to return to a requestor computing device. The privacy enhanced location service receives, from a requestor computing device, a location query requesting location information for a subject. The privacy enhanced location service retrieves a selected subject privacy policy data structure, selected from a set of subject privacy policy data structures corresponding to the subject identified in the location query. The privacy enhanced location service applies the selected subject privacy policy data structure to location information associated with the subject to generate modified location information having a granularity of location information specified in the selected subject privacy policy data structure. The privacy enhanced location service transmits the modified location information to the requestor computing device.

A tracking system can aid in the retrieval of a lost tracking device by facilitating communication between users of the tracking system. The users are able to specify privacy controls describing permitted communication settings for a communication session established by the tracking system. Specifically, the tracking system may receive privacy controls from an owner of the tracking device. Upon receiving a communication updating the location of the lost tracking device from a user other than the owner of the tracking device, the tracking system determines whether the tracking device is actually lost and identifies a “finder” of the tracking device. The tracking system then accesses the privacy controls received from the owner (and finder, if applicable) of the tracking device and establishes a communication session based on permitted communication settings described by the privacy controls.

A method for allowing the management of permissions, notifications and reporting pertaining to a wireless device and the physical location of the device obtained via automatic location identification (ALI) technologies. A location preferences management system and method is provided for wireless users utilizing a mobile application requesting location fixes via any telecommunication technology. The location management system provides these mobile users with a comprehensive understanding of the location permissions and notifications and hence the location transactions associated with their wireless device and with the ability to manage it in a way that makes sense for their personal or business needs.

A method for allowing the management of permissions, notifications and reporting pertaining to a wireless device and the physical location of the device obtained via automatic location identification (ALI) technologies. A location preferences management system and method is provided for wireless users utilizing a mobile application requesting location fixes via any telecommunication technology. The location management system provides these mobile users with a comprehensive understanding of the location permissions and notifications and hence the location transactions associated with their wireless device and with the ability to manage it in a way that makes sense for their personal or business needs.

It is provided a method, comprising monitoring if a tunnel to a terminal via an untrusted network is to be established, wherein the tunnel is set up only if the terminal is authenticated and authorized; requesting, if the tunnel is to be established, the authentication and authorization and an information on a location of the terminal; providing the information on the location received in response to the request to a gateway.

Systems, methods, apparatus and mechanisms for deriving user device location information by exploiting existing voice and/or data capabilities within the Radio Access Network (RAN) layer of a 4G or 3G wireless network, and offering the derived user device location information to network optimization functions, application and/or service providers via an application programming interface (API).

In one embodiment, a network interface receives a communication associated with a networked device over a communication link of a radio access network. A processor determines whether the communication is an emergency communication, and a memory stores location information of the networked device associated with the emergency communication. The network interface then receives, from a requesting user, a location request, wherein the location request identifies a requested networked device. The processor determines whether the identification of the requested networked device matches an identification of the networked device. When the identification of the requested networked device matches the identification of the networked device, the network interface further operable to communicate the location information of the networked device to the requesting user.

Systems and methods for locating a cellular phone are provided. More particularly, systems and methods for providing the location of a requested user's cellular phone from a requesting user's device (e.g., a second cellular phone) based on access rights defined by the requested user. Location descriptions may be provided at a multitude of levels. For example, if a cellular phone, or an identity associated to (e.g., logged into) a cellular phone, has been given access rights to a cell phone's exact location for an indefinite amount of time, that cell phone can receive, on command, the exact location of the approved cell phone. Other levels of location information that can be granted include, for example, proximities, states, and countries.

A handset agent calibration solution is provided that uses the GPS receivers on mobile devices to determine a location of the mobile device to calibrate timing based locating systems. The handset agent can be installed on the mobile device and can upload to an internet server the coordinates captured by the GPS receiver along with the observed time differences. The observed time differences and the location of the mobile device can be used to solve for reference time differences to calibrate unsynchronized macrocells. The reference time difference can be used to solve for the location of other mobile devices if the observed time differences between that mobile device and the macrocells are known. The solution can include receiving measurement reports from many mobile devices to obtain averaged observed time differences at a reference location to achieve more accurate reference time differences.

A handset agent calibration solution is provided that uses the GPS receivers on mobile devices to determine a location of the mobile device to calibrate timing based locating systems. The handset agent can be installed on the mobile device and can upload to an internet server the coordinates captured by the GPS receiver along with the observed time differences. The observed time differences and the location of the mobile device can be used to solve for reference time differences to calibrate unsynchronized macrocells. The reference time difference can be used to solve for the location of other mobile devices if the observed time differences between that mobile device and the macrocells are known. The solution can include receiving measurement reports from many mobile devices to obtain averaged observed time differences at a reference location to achieve more accurate reference time differences.