Determining device location in an ip-based wireless telecommunications network

An apparatus for assisting in the determination of a mobile device location in a wireless telecommunications network, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• at least one memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions to be executed by the at least one processor, the instructions comprising—
• receiving a first message comprising a mobile device location request from a network controller,
• wherein the mobile device location request is associated with a mobile device communicatively coupled to an IP-based wireless telecommunications network via an access point;
• transmitting a second message to the network controller, the second message including a request for location information;
• receiving location information via a third message, wherein the third message comprises multiple information elements,
• wherein the information elements include at least two of the following four information elements:
• a MAC address associated with the mobile device;
• a first location uncertainty value associated with the MAC address;
• a serving area associated with an IP address associated with the access point;
• or
• a second location uncertainty value associated with the serving area;
• calculating an estimated geographic position of the mobile device based on the information elements;
• and
• providing the estimated geographic position to the network controller.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause a device to perform a method for determining a location associated with a mobile computing device in a telecommunications network, the method comprising:

• receiving a device location request,
• wherein the device location request is associated with a mobile computing device that is communicatively coupled to an IP-based wireless telecommunications network via an access point;
• determining a serving area associated with an IP address for the access point;
• transmitting a request for location information;
• receiving a reply to the request, wherein the reply includes:
• a first location uncertainty value associated with a MAC address of the device;
• a second location uncertainty value associated with the serving area;
• calculating an estimated geographic position of the device partially based on the MAC address, the serving area, and the first or second location uncertainty value;
• and
• providing the estimated geographic position to the network controller.