# US 9,439,032 B2 · Locating a device via a text message

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- Number: US 9,439,032 B2
- Document ID: US9439032B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/093,192
- Filed: 2013-11-29
- Published: 2015-06-04
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-11-29
- Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
- Applicants: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
- Inventors: Sangar Dowlatkhah; Venson M. Shaw
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9439032B2

## CPC

- H04W 4/14: Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
- H04W 4/02: Services making use of location information
- H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services
- H04W 12/062: Pre-authentication
- H04L 63/12: {Applying verification of the received information (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32)}
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

A first device may receive a location of a second device simply by sending a text message to the second device. The text message may comprise an identifier of the second device (e.g., phone number of the second device, mobile subsection identification number of the second device, etc.) and a location code. A communication network may intercept the text message. The communication network may analyze contents of the text message. The network may determine that the location code is valid and determine the location of the second device. The network may provide an indication of the location of the second device to the first device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising:
a processor; and
memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:
receiving a text message sent to a device, the text message comprising:
a destination address of the device;
an indication of a region of interest; and
an image indicative of a location of the device;
determining, based on the received text message, whether a provider of the text message is authorized to receive an indication of the location of the device;
upon a determination that the provider of the text message is authorized to receive the indication of the location of the device, determining the location of the device;
providing the indication of the location of the device when the location of the device is within the region of interest, the indication of the location of the device is provided in a format compatible for rendering with a geographical map; and
restricting forwarding of the text message to the device based on a determination that:
the text message contains a code indicative of a request for the location of the device, and
the text message does not contain a message for the device at the destination address, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one of a mobile switching center, a short message service center, a consolidated network repository, a service mobile location center, or a radio access network.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the text message comprises a predetermined code.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the text message is formatted as short message service message.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the destination address of the device comprises a phone number of the device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a combined home location register and home subscriber server.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the text message comprises a predetermined code, the predetermined code is indicative of a request for a location of the device.

### Claim 7

A method comprising:
receiving, by an apparatus, a text message sent to a device, the text message comprising:
a destination address of the device;
an indication of a region of interest; and
an image indicative of a location of the device;
determining, based on the received text message, whether a provider of the text message is authorized to receive an indication of the location of the device;
upon a determination that the provider of the text message is authorized to receive the indication of the location of the device, determining the location of the device;
providing the indication of the location of the device when the location of the device is within the region of interest, the indication of the location of the device is provided in a format compatible for rendering with a geographical map; and
restricting forwarding of the text message based on a determination that:
the text message contains a code indicative of a request for the location of the device, and
the text message does not contain a message for the device at the destination address, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one of a mobile switching center, a short message service center, a consolidated network repository, a service mobile location center, or a radio access network.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the text message comprises a predetermined code.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the text message is formatted as short message service message.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the destination address of the device comprises a phone number of the device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the intercepting is completed by an apparatus that comprises a combined home location register and home subscriber server.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the text message comprises a predetermined code, the predetermined code is indicative of a request for a location of the device.

### Claim 13

A computer-readable storage medium that is not a transient signal comprising executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:
receiving, by an apparatus, a text message sent to a device, the text message comprising:
a destination address of the device;
an indication of a region of interest; and
an image indicative of a location of the device;
determining, based on the received text message, whether a provider of the text message is authorized to receive an indication of the location of the device;
upon a determination that the provider of the text message is authorized to receive the indication of the location of the device, determining the location of the device;
providing the indication of the location of the device when the location of the device is within the region of interest, the indication of the location of the device is provided in a format compatible for rendering with a geographical map; and
restricting forwarding of the text message based on a determination that:
the text message contains a code indicative of a request for the location of the device, and
the text message does not contain a message for the device at the destination address, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one of a mobile switching center, a short message service center, a consolidated network repository, a service mobile location center, or a radio access network.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the text message comprises a predetermined code.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the text message is formatted as short message service message.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the destination address of the device comprises a phone number of the device.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises a combined home location register and home subscriber server.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the text message comprises a predetermined code, the predetermined code is indicative of a request for a location of the device.