Internet distributed real-time wireless location database

Abstract

A system for easily and inexpensively distributing real time location information of cellular telephone users to various third party information subscribers comprises an HTTP server machine which maintains a dynamic database of current cellular users. The database has a list of caller entries, where each entry typically comprises a user ID number, such as a phone number, mobile ID number, and/or handset serial ID. The entry also includes, for each user ID number, a user location identifier such as a latitude and longitude, a sector number, a caller or called phone number and/or a street address. The HTTP server is connected to the internet so that registered third party information subscribers have access to the database by means of standard HTTP protocols that ensure authentication and provide encryption for security. Using caller ID or other means for obtaining a caller's phone number, the third party subscriber can obtain, via a simple internet query, the current location of the caller by submitting the phone number to the HTTP server using an HTML form. Standard software on the central server machine verifies the authenticity of the subscriber, looks up the location information in the database, and returns the information to the subscriber. The subscriber can then use the location information to provide any of a wide range of services to the caller, or to dispatch emergency vehicles to the location of the caller. In addition, the server can directly provide many location-based services to callers.