WO2002017656A2

WO2002017656A2 - Methods, mobile user terminal and system for controlling access to mobile user terminal location information

Info

Publication number: WO2002017656A2
Application number: PCT/US2001/025894
Authority: WO
Inventors: Claes Von Scheele; Eric Plantier; Jr. William O Camp; Nils R. Rydbeck
Original assignee: Ericsson Inc
Priority date: 2000-08-22
Filing date: 2001-08-17
Publication date: 2002-02-28
Also published as: WO2002017656A3; AU2001285069A1

Abstract

Access to mobile user terminal location information can be controlled by receiving a request from a requestor (205, 405, 505, 605, 805) for location information associated with the location of the mobile user terminal (201, 401, 501, 601, 801) at a location server (225, 423, 523, 640, 840) that maintains the location information. The location server (225, 423, 523, 640, 840) determines whether the requestor (205, 405, 505, 605, 805) authorized to receive the location information from the location server (225, 423, 523, 640, 840). The location server (225, 423, 523, 640, 840) transmits an authorization that allows the requestor (205, 405, 505, 605, 805) to receive the location information from the location server (225, 423, 523, 640, 840) in response to determining that the requestor (205, 405, 505, 605, 805) is authorized to receive the location information from the location server (225, 423, 523, 640, 840).

Description

METHODS, MOBILE USER TERMINALS, AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING ACCESS TO MOBILE USER TERMINAL LOCATION

INFORMATION

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application is related to commonly assigned U.S. Patent

Application No. , entitled Systems, Methods, and Computer Progfam

Products For Identifying Items of Interest That Are Geographically Proximate To Wireless Communicator Users, (Attorney Docket 8194-444/P 12462), filed concurrently herewith, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of communications in general, and more particularly, to mobile communications.

Some location information systems have been combined with radiotelephones as described, for example in U.S. Patent No. 5,663,734 entitled GPS Receiver and Method for Processing GPS Signals which is assigned to the present assignee, in U.S. Patent No. 5,982,324 to Watters et al., entitled Combining GPS with TOA/TDOA Of Cellular Signals To Locate Terminal, in U.S. Patent No. 5,479,482 to Grimes entitled Cellular Terminal For Providing Public Emergency Call Location Information, and in U.S. Patent No. 6,061,561 to Alanara et al. entitled Cellular Communications System Providing Cell Transmitter Location Information, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Unfortunately, access to a the radiotelephone's location information may be unprotected. For example, in some conventional systems, the user may be unaware that location information is being transmitted by the radiotelephone. Accordingly, there is a need for improved methods, mobile user terminals, and systems that report location information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Embodiments according to the present invention can provide location information associated with a mobile user terminal by receiving a request from a requestor for location information associated with a location of the mobile user terminal at a location server that maintains the location information. A determination can be made as to whether the requestor is authorized to receive the location information from the location server. If the requestor is determined to be an authorized requestor, an authorization can be transmitted that allows the requestor to receive the location information from the location server. Accordingly, access to location information associated with the radiotelephone can be controlled by the user by determining whether a requestor is authorized to receive information prior to transmission of the location information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates embodiments of radiotelephones according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates embodiments of methods, radiotelephones and systems according the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart that illustrates methods of operating location servers according to the present invention.

FIGs. 4-5 are block diagrams that illustrates embodiments of methods, radiotelephones, and systems according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram that illustrates embodiments of Web pages according to the present invention. FIGs. 7-8 are block diagrams that illustrate embodiments of methods, radiotelephones, and systems according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the present invention may be embodied as methods, devices or computer displayable documents. Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of a hardware embodiment, a software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. The present invention is also described using flowchart illustrations and block diagrams. It will be understood that each block (of the flowchart illustrations and block diagrams), and combinations of blocks, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These program instructions may be provided to a processor circuit(s) within the mobile user terminal or system, such that the instructions which execute on the processor circuit(s) create means for implementing the functions specified in the block or blocks. The computer program instructions may be executed by the processor circuit(s) to cause a series of operational steps to be performed by the processor circuit(s) to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the processor circuit(s) provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the block or blocks.

Accordingly, the blocks support combinations of means for performing the specified functions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions and program instruction means for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that each block, and combinations of blocks, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems which perform the specified functions or steps, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

Although the present invention is described herein by reference to a radiotelephone, it will be understood that the present invention can be embodied in other types of mobile user terminals such as a portable computer, a handheld computer, a personal digital assistant and the like. The present invention can be embodied in a type of radiotelephone commonly referred to as a Web phone or Web enabled radiotelephone. As used herein, the term "Web" refers to the World Wide Web which currently runs on the Internet. The Web is described further, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 5,937,160 to Davis et al. entitled Systems, Methods, and Computer Program Products for Updating Hypertext Documents Via Electronic Mail the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The present invention can also be utilized in other types of networks such as an intranet or private network.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates embodiments of radiotelephones 101 according to the present invention. The radiotelephone 101 can be used to communicate within a wireless communications system. Wireless communications systems are commonly employed to provide voice and data communications to subscribers. For example, analog cellular radiotelephone systems, such as those designated AMPS, ETACS, NMT-450, and NMT-900, have long been deployed successfully throughout the world. Digital cellular radiotelephone systems, such as those conforming to the North American standard IS-54 and the European standard GSM, have been in service since the early 1990's. More recently, a wide variety of wireless digital services broadly labeled as PCS (Personal Communications Services) have been introduced, including advanced digital cellular systems conforming to standards such as IS-136 and IS-95, lower-power systems such as DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephone) and data communications services such as CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data).

As shown in FIG. 1, the radiotelephone 101 includes a keypad 110 which can be used to provide input to the radiotelephone 101. The keypad 110 can include a plurality of keys that provide input to the radiotelephone 101 when pushed. For example, when the user wishes to initiate a call in the wireless communications system, the user pushes a series of keys that correspond to the number to be dialed. During the call, the user can speak into a microphone 145 which causes the radiotelephone 101 to generate communication signals which are transmitted from the radiotelephone 101. The user may listen to a speaker 160 that produces audio signals generated by the radiotelephone 101 from communication signals received by the radiotelephone 101 during a call. The radiotelephone 101 transmits and receives the communication signals via a transceiver circuit 140 over an antenna 159. The transceiver circuit 140 include separate transmitter and receiver circuits.

During operation, the user may refer to a display 156 of the radiotelephone 101 to observe information relevant to the operation of the radiotelephone 101, such as characters or numbers. For example, the display 156 can be a black and white Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) that displays, for example, a telephone number entered by the user or a name stored in the radiotelephone 101. The display 156 may also be used in conjunction with the keypad 110 such as when the user dials a number to place a call.

It will be understood that the functions of keypad 110 and the display 156 can be provided by a user interface to the radiotelephone 101. For example, the user interface can be a touch screen through which the user can view computer displayable documents, provide input thereto, and control the radiotelephone 101. It will be understood by those having skill in the art that Web pages and computer displayable documents can be, for example, hypertext documents which can include text, images, input fields, output fields, and a variety of other objects. A processor circuit 1 3 provides the communications signals to the transceiver circuit 140 for transmission and receives the communications signals from the transceiver circuit 140 for reception. For example, the processor circuit 103 provides communications signals to the transceiver 140 when the user speaks into the microphone 145 and receives communications signals from the transceiver 140 for the reproduction of audio through the speaker 160. The processor circuit 103 generates characters for display on the display 156. For example, the processor circuit 103 generates numbers for display when the user enters a telephone number on the keypad 110. The characters can also be generated by a character generator which is not shown. The microphone 145, speaker 160, keypad 110, and display 156 are coupled to the processor circuit 103 which controls operations of the radiotelephone 101.

The radiotelephone 101 of the present invention can include a receiver circuit 105 and an antenna 107. The receiver circuit 105 and antenna 107 can receive signals used to determine location information associated with the radiotelephone 101. In some embodiments, the receiver circuit 105 and antenna 107 are a GPS receiver and antenna which receive GPS signals used to provide latitude and longitude information to the processor circuit 103. The processor circuit 103 can use the latitude and longitude information to determine the location information associated with the radiotelephone 101. In other embodiments, the location information is determined by receiving signals from the wireless communications system as described, for example, in Watters et al. The radiotelephone 101 may use other methods and/or systems to determine the location information.

Alternatively, the location information can be determined external to the radiotelephone 101. For example, in some embodiments the location information is determined by a cellular positioning system using a triangulation technique. Cellular positioning systems are described further, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 5,327,144 to Stilp et al. entitled Cellular telephone location system, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In some embodiments the location information can be a cell or base station number in the wireless communications system, an address, or other information that can be used to indicate a location of the radiotelephone 101. The location information can be updated periodically or in response to an event or a command. For example, location information may be determined in response to receiving a request for location information. The location information can be stored in a location circuit 106. The location circuit 106 can also store the a list of identifiers associated with authorized requestors. The location circuit 106 can operate as a location server which provides the location information associated with the radiotelephone 101 to a requestor that is determined to be authorized to receive the location information associated with the radiotelephone. In some embodiments, the location information is not stored in the radiotelephone 101. For example, the location information may be stored on a server in a network.

It will be understood that the location circuit 106 can be implemented by software and/or firmware that is run by the processor circuit 103. The processor circuit 103 may, for example, store the location information and list of authorized requestors in a memory (not shown). Alternatively, the location circuit 106 can be a separate circuit that executes software and/or firmware to carry out the operations of the location server. FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates embodiments of methods, radiotelephones and systems according the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, a location server 225 according to the present invention is included in a radiotelephone 201. A requestor 205 transmits a request 215 for location information to the location server 225 via a network 209, such as the Internet, coupled to a wireless communication system 210. The requestor 205 can be, for example, a computer, a computer terminal, a telephone, a second radiotelephone, or other electronic communications device. Alternatively, the requestor 205 may communicate with the wireless communications system 210 directly, thereby avoiding communications with the network 209. The request 215 can include a requestor identifier associated with the requestor 205. The requestor identifier can be, for example, a name, a telephone number associated with the requestor, or other information that allows the location server 225 to identifier the requestor 205.

The location server 225 can transmit an authorization response 220 including the location information to the requestor 205 if the requestor is authorized to receive the location information. The request 215 and the authorization response 220 can be transmitted in the wireless communications system 210 using techniques known to those having skill in the art. For example, the request 215 and the authorization response 220 can be transmitted using a Short Message Service (SMS). SMS is described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 5,915,222 to Olsson et al. entitled Transporting Short Message Service (SMS) Messages Within A Telecommunications Network, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Other services and/or techniques may be used.

It will be understood that the requests and responses according to the present invention may be conducted when a call status of the radiotelephone is active, for example, during a call. Alternatively, communications according to the present invention may occur when the call status is inactive. The communications can be conducted over a channel of the wireless communications system, such as a traffic channel, a control channel, a packet data channel or the like. Other communications systems, such as a Public Switched Telephone Network or the Internet may be used.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart that illustrates methods of operating location servers according to the present invention. The location server receives a request for location information associated with the radiotelephone (block 301). The location server determines whether the requestor is authorized to receive the location information based, for example, on a requestor identifier associated with the request (block 302). If the location server determines that the requestor is authorized to receive the location information (block 302), the location server transmits an authorization that allows the requestor to receive the location information (block 303). If the location server determines that the requestor is not authorized to receive the location information (block 302), no authorization is sent to the requestor (block 304). In some embodiments, the radiotelephone may prompt the user for input to indicate whether the requestor is authorized or not. Accordingly, the transmission of the authorization for the requestor to receive the location information may be provided by input via the keypad 110.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram that illustrates embodiments of methods, radiotelephones, and systems according to the present invention. A location server 423 according to the present invention communicates with a Web page 410 or computer displayable document running on a server 440 via a network 409 to authorize a requestor 405 to receive the location information.

The requestor 405 submits a request 415 for location information to the Web page 410. The Web page 410 transmits the request 415 to the location server 423 in the radiotelephone 401 via a wireless communications system 411. If the location server 423 determines that the requestor 405 is authorized to receive the location information, the location server 423 transmits an authorization response 425 including the location information to the server 440 which provides the location information to the requestor 405 via the Web page 410. FIG. 5 is a block diagram that illustrates embodiments of methods, radiotelephones, and systems according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, a requestor 505 transmits a first request 515 to a location server 523 in the radiotelephone 501 via a network 509 coupled to a wireless communications system 511. In contrast to the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 4, the first request 515 may not be transmitted through a Web page 504 on a server 510.

If the location server 523 determines that the requestor 505 is authorized to receive the location information, the location server 523 can transmit a response 520 that authorizes the requestor 505 to receive the location information. The authorization response 520 can include the location information and an authorization identifier, such as a Personal Identification Number (PIN) which is provided to the requestor 505. The requestor 505 can access the Web page 504 to receive the PIN. The requestor 505 transmits a second request 530, including the requestor identifier and the PIN, to the server 510. The server 510 transmits a second response 527 to the requestor 505 that includes the location information. In some embodiments, a PIN can be provided to the to the requestor 505 without the use of a Web page. For example, the PIN may be sent by the radiotelephone 501 directly to the requestor 505 using SMS or e-mail. Other types of communications can be used. In other embodiments, the PIN can be sent to the requestor 505 by a source other than the radiotelephone 501. It will be understood that the communications described herein may be encrypted or authenticated using, for example, digital certificates signed by a certifying authority, such as VeriSign®, so that the location server can verify that a request is from the identified requestor. Additional information on VeriSign® may be obtained on the Web at http://www.verisign.com. Other types of encryption or authentication may be used.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram that illustrates embodiments of Web pages and computer displayable documents according to the present invention. As shown in

FIG. 6, a Web page 700 can include a requestor field 705 to which the requestor can input a requestor identifier that is recognizable by the location server as being associated with the requestor. The Web page also includes a radiotelephone identifier field 710.

The Web page 700 can transmit the requestor identifier to the location server associated with the radiotelephone identified by the radiotelephone identifier. If the requestor is authorized to receive the location information, the Web page outputs the location information received from the location server via the location information field 715. Alternatively, the location server may transmit an authorization code, such as a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to the requestor which can input the PIN to a authorization code field 720 to access the location information. In some embodiments, the Web page 700 can be the user's home Web page or a third party Web page that provides the location information services according to the present invention to a group of subscribers.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram that illustrates embodiments of methods, radiotelephone, and systems according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, a location server 640 can run on a server 610 external to a radiotelephone 601. The radiotelephone 601 can provide location information and a list of authorized requestor identifiers to the location server 640 by communications 620 via a wireless communications system 611 coupled to a network 609. In other embodiments, the authorized requestor identifiers are provided from a source other than that radiotelephone 601, such as by sending electronic mail via the Internet. Other sources may be used.

The location information can be provided periodically or in response to a request from the location server 640 or other system or device. The location information can be provided prior to a request for location information. Accordingly, location information associated with the radiotelephone 601 may be provided when the radiotelephone is switched off or is otherwise in an inactive state.

The requestor 605 transmits a request 615, including a requestor identifier and a radiotelephone identifier, to the location server 640 via the network 609. If the location server 640 determines that the requestor 605 is authorized to receive the location information, the location server 640 can transmit an authorization response 630 that includes the location information.

In some embodiments, the authorization can be valid for a predetermined time. Accordingly, if an authorized requestor does not request the location information prior to expiration of the predetermined time, the requestor's authorization will expire. In other embodiments, the user may revoke authorization previously given to a requestor. In still other embodiments, the user can delete the location information associated with the radiotelephone 601 from the location server 640.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram that illustrates embodiments of methods, radiotelephone, and systems according to the present invention. According to FIG. 8, the location information is determined using a cellular positioning system 802 such as those described in Stilp. In particular, the cellular positioning system 802 can provide location information using triangulation techniques applied to communications used for standard radiotelephone operations. Accordingly, a radiotelephone 801 may not need specialized location determination hardware and/or software to function in systems according to the present invention.

The cellular positioning system 802 can be part of a wireless communications system 811 that provides service to the radiotelephone 801. In other embodiments, the cellular positioning system 802 can be separate from the wireless communications system 811.

A location server 840 can run on a server 810 external to the radiotelephone 801. The cellular positioning system 802 can provide location information to the location server 840 via a network 809 coupled to the wireless communications system 811. A requestor 805 transmits a request 815, including a requestor identifier and a radiotelephone identifier, to the location server 840 via the network 809. The location server 840 forwards a request 820 to the radiotelephone 801 via the wireless communications system 811. Other communications can be used to provide the request 820 to the radiotelephone 801. Upon receiving the request 820, the radiotelephone 801 can be used to determine whether the requestor 805 is authorized to receive the location information. For example, in some embodiments the radiotelephone 801 can store a list of authorized users so that the radiotelephone 801 may respond to the request 820 without user intervention. In other embodiments, the radiotelephone 801 may request input from the user as to whether the requestor 805 is authorized to receive the location information.

If the requestor 805 is authorized, the radiotelephone 801 can transmit an authorization response 830 to the location server 840. Upon receiving the authorization response 830, the location server 840 can provide the location information to the requestor 805. If the requestor 805 is not authorized, the radiotelephone 801 does not transmit the authorization. Accordingly, the location information can be provided to the authorized requestor 805 under the control of the user without requiring the radiotelephone 801 to include special hardware and/or software to determine the location of the radiotelephone 801.

According to the present invention, access to location information associated with a radiotelephone can be controlled by determining whether a requestor is authorized to receive the location information prior to allowing the requestor to access or receive the location information. Embodiments according to the present invention can provide location information associated with a mobile user terminal by receiving a request from a requestor for location information associated with a location of the mobile user terminal at a location server that maintains the location information. A determination is made as to whether the requestor is authorized to receive the location information from the location server. If the requestor is determined to be an authorized requestor, an authorization is transmitted that allows the requestor to receive the location information from the location server. Accordingly, access to location information associated with the radiotelephone can be controlled by the user by determining whether a requestor is authorized to receive information prior to transmission of the location information.

In some embodiments, the location server is external to the mobile user terminal. In other embodiments, the location server is included in the mobile user terminal. In still other embodiments, the location server comprises a web page.

In other embodiments, the request is received when a call status associated with the mobile user terminal is inactive indicating that no call is in progress at the mobile user terminal.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a computer- displayable document according to the present invention includes a first field for input of a requestor identifier associated with a requestor of location information associated with the mobile user terminal and a second field for input of a mobile user terminal identifier associated with the mobile user terminal for which location information is requested. A third field is configured to provide output of the location information based on whether the requestor is authorized to receive the location information. In further embodiments according to the present invention, the computer- displayable document further includes a fourth field that provides for output of an authorization code that authorizes the requestor to receive the location information and a fifth field that provides for input of the authorization code that is transmitted to a location server that maintains the location information. In some embodiments, the second field provides for input of a telephone number.

In other embodiments, the mobile user terminal can include a receiver circuit that receives requests from a requestor for location information associated with a location of the mobile user terminal and a processor circuit that determines whether the requestor is authorized to receive the location information. A transmitter circuit transmits an authorization in response to the processor circuit determining that the requestor is authorized to receive the location information. Accordingly, location information can be determined external to the mobile user terminal. For example, the location information can be provided by a cellular positioning system that determines the location information based on communications used, for example, during standard mobile user terminal operations. Therefore, the mobile user terminal may not need specialized location determination hardware and/or software to function in a system according to the present invention.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typical preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED:

1. A method for providing location information associated with a mobile user terminal, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a request from a requestor for location information associated with a location of the mobile user terminal at a location server that maintains the location information; determining whether the requestor is authorized to receive the location information from the location server; and transmitting an authorization that allows the requestor to receive the location information from the location server in response to determining that the requestor is authorized to receive the location information from the location server.

2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the location server is external to the mobile user terminal.

3. A method according to Claim 2, wherein the step of receiving comprises the step of receiving the request when a call status associated with the mobile user terminal is inactive indicating that no call is in progress at the mobile user terminal.

4. A method according to Claim 1 , wherein the location server is included in the mobile user terminal.

5. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the location server comprises a web page that is configured to display the location information to the requestor.

6. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the step of determining comprises the step of comparing a requestor identifier associated with the requestor to a list of authorized requestor identifiers associated with respective requestors authorized to receive the location information.

7. A method according to Claim 1 , wherein the step of determining comprises the steps of: outputting a received requestor identifier associated with the requestor via an interface of the mobile user terminal; and receiving input via the interface that indicates whether the requestor is authorized to receive the location information from the location server.

8. A method according to Claim 7, wherein the step of transmitting comprises the step of transmitting a signal that authorizes the transmission of the location information from the mobile user terminal.

9. A method according to Claim 2, wherein the step of determining is preceded by the step of receiving an authorization identifier associated with an authorized requestor that is authorized to receive the location information.

10. A method according to Claim 9, wherein the authorization identifier authorizes the associated requestor to receive the location information from the location server for a predetermined time.

11. A method according to Claim 2 further comprising the step of receiving an unauthorized identifier associated with an unauthorized requestor that indicates that the unauthorized requestor is not authorized to receive the location information from the location server.

_*

12. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting comprises the step of transmitting the location information from the location server to the requestor.

13. A method according to Claim 2 further comprising the steps of: receiving a second request for the location information at the location server from the requestor; and transmitting the location information from the location server to the requestor in response to the second request.

14. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the requestor comprises a second mobile user terminal.

15. A method for providing location information associated with a mobile user terminal, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a requestor identifier associated with a requestor of location information associated with the mobile user terminal; receiving a mobile user terminal identifier associated with the mobile user terminal for which location information is requested; and transmitting the location information based on whether the requestor is authorized to receive the location information.

16. A method according to Claim 15, wherein the mobile user terminal identifier comprises a telephone number.

17. A method according to Claim 15 further comprising the steps of: receiving an authorization code from the mobile user terminal that authorizes the requestor to receive the location information; transmitting the authorization code to a location server that maintains the location information; and transmitting the location information from the location server to the requestor.

18. A mobile user terminal comprising : a receiver circuit that receives requests from a requestor for location information associated with a location of the mobile user terminal; a location circuit, coupled to the receiver, that determines the location information and stores the location information; a processor circuit, coupled to the receiver circuit and the location circuit, that determines whether the requestor is authorized to receive the location information from the location circuit; and a transmitter, coupled to the processor circuit, that transmits the location information stored in the location circuit in response to the processor circuit determining that the requestor is authorized to receive the location information from the location circuit.

19. A mobile user terminal according to Claim 18 further comprising: an interface, wherein the interface provides a received requestor identifier associated with the requestor and receives input via the interface that indicates whether the requestor is authorized to receive the location information from the location circuit.

20. A mobile user terminal according to Claim 19, wherein the transmitter circuit transmits a signal that authorizes the transmission of the location information from the mobile user terminal.

21. A mobile user terminal comprising: a receiver circuit that receives requests from a requestor for location information associated with a location of the mobile user terminal; a processor circuit, coupled to the receiver circuit, that determines whether the requestor is authorized to receive the location information; and a transmitter circuit, coupled to the processor circuit, that transmits an authorization in response to the processor circuit determining that the requestor is authorized to receive the location information.

22. A mobile user terminal according to Claim 21 further comprising: an interface, wherein the interface provides a received requestor identifier associated with the requestor and receives input via the interface that indicates whether the requestor is authorized to receive the location information.

23. A mobile user terminal according to Claim 21 , wherein the location information is determined via a cellular positioning system.

24. A mobile user terminal according to Claim 21 , wherein the processor circuit determines whether the requestor is authorized without requesting input from a user.

25. A mobile user terminal according to Claim 24, wherein the processor circuit determines whether the requestor is authorized by comparing a requestor identifier associated with the requestor to an authorized identifier associated with an authorized requestor.

26. A computer-displayable document for providing location information associated with a mobile user terminal, the computer-displayable document comprising: a first field configured to receive a requestor identifier associated with a requestor of location information associated with the mobile user terminal; a second field configured to receive a mobile user terminal identifier associated with the mobile user terminal for which location information is requested; and a third field that provides the location information based on whether the requestor is authorized to receive the location information.

27. A computer-displayable document according to Claim 26 further comprising: a fourth field that provides an authorization code that authorizes the requestor to receive the location information; and a fifth field configured to receive the authorization code that is transmitted to a location server that maintains the location information.

28. A computer-displayable document according to Claim 26, wherein the second field is configured to receive a telephone number.

29. A system for providing location information associated with a mobile user terminal, the system comprising: means for receiving a request from a requestor for location information associated with a location of the mobile user terminal at a location server that maintains the location information; means for determining whether the requestor is authorized to receive the location information from the location server; and means for transmitting an authorization that allows the requestor to receive the location information from the location server in response to determining that the requestor is authorized to receive the location information from the location server.

30. A system according to Claim 29, wherein the location server is external to the mobile user terminal.

31. A system according to Claim 30, wherein the means for receiving comprises means for receiving the request when a call status associated with the mobile user terminal is inactive indicating that no call is in progress at the mobile user terminal.

32. A system according to Claim 29, wherein the location server is included in the mobile user terminal.

33. A system according to Claim 29, wherein the location server comprises a web page that is configured to display the location information to the requestor.

34. A system according to Claim 29, wherein the means for determining comprises means for comparing a requestor identifier associated with the requestor to a list of authorized requestor identifiers associated with respective requestors authorized to receive the location information.

35. A system according to Claim 29, wherein the means for determining comprises: means for outputting a received requestor identifier associated with the requestor via an interface of the mobile user terminal; and means for receiving input via the interface that indicates whether the requestor is authorized to receive the location information from the location server.