Network based geo-fencing in wireless networks

A geo-fencing system, comprising:

• a processing unit configured to store a geo-fence associated with a geographic location of a user equipment device (UE);
• and
• a communication interface configured to receive, from a Network Exposure Function (NEF) or Service Capability Exposure Function (SCEF) in a mobile network, a monitoring event (MONTE) location report associated with a current location of the UE within the mobile network,
• wherein the processing unit is further configured to:
• extract a Radio Access Network (RAN) location from the MONTE location report, wherein the RAN location identifies a cell, cell sector, eNodeB (eNB), gNodeB (gNB), or tracking area (TA) associated with the current location of the UE,
• determine, based on a comparison of the identified cell, cell sector, eNB, gNB, or TA with the stored geo-fence, whether the UE has entered or exited the geo-fence, and
• send, based on a determination that the UE has entered or exited the geo-fence, a geo-fence alert to the NEF or SCEF for forwarding to a geo-fencing enabled application.

A non-transitory storage medium storing instructions executable by a network device, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to cause the network device to:

• store a geo-fence associated with a geographic location of a user equipment device (UE);
• receive, from a Network Exposure Function (NEF) or Service Capability Exposure Function (SCEF) in a mobile network, a monitoring event (MONTE) location report associated with a current location of the UE within the mobile network;
• extract a Radio Access Network (RAN) location from the MONTE location report, wherein the RAN location identifies a cell, cell sector, eNodeB (eNB), gNodeB (gNB), or tracking area (TA) associated with the current location of the UE;
• determine, based on a comparison of the identified cell, cell sector, eNB, gNB, or TA with the stored geo-fence, whether the UE has entered or exited the geo-fence;
• and
• send, based on a determination that the UE has entered or exited the geo-fence, a geo-fence alert to the NEF or SCEF for forwarding to a geo-fencing enabled application.