Dynamic selection of user plane or control plane or control plane for location determination

A method comprising:

• receiving into a positioning system a request for location of a mobile station;
• in response to the request, making a determination, based on one or more factors, of whether to obtain mobile station location data through control plane signaling or user plane signaling;
• if the determination is to obtain the mobile station location data through control plane signaling, then engaging in control plane signaling to obtain the mobile station location data;
• and
• if the determination is to obtain the mobile station location data through user plane signaling, then engaging in user plane signaling to obtain the mobile station location data,
• wherein the one or more factors comprises mobile station call state,
• wherein making the determination based on the one or more factors comprises (i) consulting a presence store to determine whether a mobile station at issue is currently engaged in a call, and (ii) basing the determination based on whether the mobile station is currently engaged in a call, and
• wherein making the determination based on whether the mobile station is currently engaged in a call comprises:
• (a) if the mobile station is currently engaged in a call, making the determination to employ control plane signaling and (b) if the mobile station is not currently engaged in call, making the determination to employ user plane signaling.

A method comprising:

• receiving into a positioning system a request for location of a mobile station;
• in response to the request, making a determination, based on one or more factors, of whether to obtain mobile station location data through control plane signaling or user plane signaling;
• if the determination is to obtain the mobile station location data through control plane signaling, then engaging in control plane signaling to obtain the mobile station location data;
• and
• if the determination is to obtain the mobile station location data through user plane signaling, then engaging in user plane signaling to obtain the mobile station location data,
• wherein the request for location defines a level of precision, and wherein the one or more factors comprises the level of precision, and
• wherein making the determination based on the one or more factors comprises (i) if the level of precision is a first level, making the determination to employ control plane signaling;
• and (ii) if the level of precision is a second level, making the determination to employ user plane signaling,
• wherein the second level is greater than the first level.

A method comprising:

• receiving into a positioning system a request for location of a mobile station;
• in response to the request, making a determination, based on one or more factors, of whether to obtain mobile station location data through control plane signaling or user plane signaling;
• if the determination is to obtain the mobile station location data through control plane signaling, then engaging in control plane signaling to obtain the mobile station location data;
• and
• if the determination is to obtain the mobile station location data through user plane signaling, then engaging in user plane signaling to obtain the mobile station location data,
• wherein the control plane signaling comprises a first communication session between the positioning system and a switch serving a mobile station at issue, and a second communication between the switch and the mobile station, and
• wherein the user plane signaling comprises a third communication session between the positioning system and the mobile station.

A positioning system arranged to selectively apply user plane signaling or control plane signaling on a case by case basis, the positioning system comprising:

• a first signaling interface for communicating on a first network to engage in control plane signaling;
• a second signaling interface for communicating on second network to engage in user plane signaling;
• a processor;
• and
• data storage containing program logic executable by the processor upon receipt of a request for location of a mobile station, (i) to make a determination, based on one or more factors, of whether to obtain mobile station location data through control plane signaling or user plane signaling, (ii) if the determination is to obtain the mobile station location data through control plane signaling, then engaging in control plane signaling via the first network interface to obtain the mobile station location data, and (iii) if the determination is to obtain the mobile station location data through user plane signaling, then engaging in user plane signaling via the second network interface to obtain the mobile station location data,
• wherein the control plane signaling comprises a first communication session between the positioning system and a switch serving a mobile station at issue, and a second communication between the switch and the mobile station;
• and
• wherein the user plane signaling comprises a third communication session between the positioning system and the mobile station.