Cellular device geolocation based on timing advance data

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11228865-B1
Application number	US-202016912863-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 26, 2020
Priority date	Jun 26, 2020
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a network device that comprises a processing system including a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations. The operations include obtaining timing advance data regarding a communication device served by the network; the timing advance data is collected by a network element coupled to the network device, and the network element communicates with the communication device using control-plane signaling. The timing advance data is processed using location data regarding the network element to determine a geolocation of the communication device. The geolocation is stored at a storage device; the network device and storage device are included in a secure portion of the network. The geolocation is provided to equipment of a network customer accessing the secure portion of the network via a secure interface. Other embodiments are disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A network device, comprising:
a processing system including a processor; and
a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
obtaining timing advance data regarding a communication device served by a network, wherein the timing advance data is collected by a network element coupled to the network device, wherein the network element communicates with the communication device using control-plane signaling;
processing the timing advance data using location data regarding the network element to determine a geolocation of the communication device;
storing the geolocation at a storage device, wherein the network device and the storage device comprise a secure portion of the network; and
providing the geolocation of the communication device to equipment of a network customer accessing the secure portion of the network via a secure interface.

2. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the timing advance data is obtained and the geolocation is provided without requiring the communication device to engage in a user-plane session.

3. The network device of claim 2 , wherein the geolocation is provided to an application server associated with the communication device.

4. The network device of claim 2 , wherein the network device comprises a mobile network operator (MNO) providing the geolocation as a monetized service.

5. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the network element comprises an Evolved Node B (eNodeB), and wherein the location data comprises a latitude and longitude for the eNodeB.

6. The network device of claim 5 , wherein the timing advance data is collected by a plurality of eNodeBs, and wherein the processing the timing advance data comprises aggregating data from each of the plurality of eNodeBs.

7. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the communication device initiates a random access procedure to obtain network services.

8. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise providing a network identifier to the communication device.

9. The network device of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise authenticating the communication device using the network identifier.

10. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the timing advance data and the location data are not provided to the equipment of the network customer.

11. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the geolocation comprises a latitude and a longitude for the communication device.

12. A method comprising:
obtaining, by a processing system including a processor of a network device, timing advance data regarding a communication device served by a network, wherein the timing advance data is collected by a network element coupled to the processing system, wherein the network element communicates with the communication device using control-plane signaling;
processing, by the processing system, the timing advance data using location data regarding the network element to determine a geolocation of the communication device, wherein the geolocation comprises a latitude and a longitude for the communication device;
storing, by the processing system, the geolocation at a storage device, wherein the network device and the storage device comprise a secure portion of the network; and
providing, by the processing system, the geolocation of the communication device to equipment of a network customer,
wherein the timing advance data is obtained and the geolocation is provided without requiring the communication device to engage in a user-plane session.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the equipment of the network customer accesses the secure portion of the network via a secure interface, and wherein the timing advance data and the location data are not provided to the equipment of the network customer.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the network element comprises an Evolved Node B (eNodeB), and wherein the location data comprises a latitude and longitude for the eNodeB.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the communication device initiates a random access procedure to obtain network services.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
providing, by the processing system, a network identifier to the communication device; and
authenticating, by the processing system, the communication device using the network identifier.

17. A machine-readable medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor of a network device, facilitate performance of operations comprising:
providing a network identifier to a communication device served by a network;
authenticating the communication device using the network identifier;
obtaining timing advance data regarding the communication device, wherein the timing advance data is collected by a network element coupled to the network device, wherein the network element communicates with the communication device using control-plane signaling;
processing the timing advance data using location data regarding the network element to determine a geolocation of the communication device;
storing the geolocation at a storage device, wherein the network device and the storage device comprise a secure portion of the network; and
providing the geolocation of the communication device to equipment of a network customer accessing the secure portion of the network via a secure interface,
wherein the timing advance data is obtained and the geolocation is provided without requiring the communication device to engage in a user-plane session.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the timing advance data and the location data are not provided to the equipment of the network customer.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the network element comprises an Evolved Node B (eNodeB), wherein the location data comprises a latitude and longitude for the eNodeB, and wherein the geolocation comprises a latitude and a longitude for the communication device.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the timing advance data is collected by a plurality of eNodeBs, and wherein the processing the timing advance data comprises aggregating data from each of the plurality of eNodeBs.

Assignees

• At & T Mobility Ii Llc
• At & T Ip I Lp

Inventors

• Bartlett Jeff
• Alexander Jordan
• Becker Thomas

Classifications

• H04W74/0833

  Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access · CPC title

• H04W4/029 Primary

  Location-based management or tracking services · CPC title

• H04L12/14

  Charging, metering or billing arrangements specially adapted for data communications, e.g. authentication, authorisation and accounting [AAA] framework · CPC title

• H04M15/00

  Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication {; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP} · CPC title

• H04M15/8033

  location-dependent, e.g. business or home · CPC title