Lawful intercept service

Abstract

A system and method is provided for monitoring the activities and/or locations of wireless units in a wireless network independent of location-based service preferences of those wireless units. That is, a system and method is provided that allows an authorized requester override location-based service preferences (e.g., privacy settings) that may be set for a wireless unit. In this regard, an authorized entity may be able to effectively locate and/or monitor the activities of a wireless unit associated with an individual of interest. Furthermore, if proper authorization exists, such monitoring may be done surreptitiously without the wireless unit user's knowledge and/or consent. For example, in some instances, law enforcement agencies may be authorized to monitor call traffic and/or the location of persons utilizing wireless units.

1 . A method for monitoring a location of a wireless unit of interest across multiple wireless networks, comprising the steps of: 
 establishing communication between an entity requesting location information for a wireless unit of interest and a system operative to procure the location information, the communication utilizing a standardized format for requesting and providing said location information from any of multiple location information sources associated with any of multiple wireless networks;    obtaining the location information from the system, including overriding a privacy setting associated with said wireless unit of interest where necessary to obtain the location information;    analyzing the location information to monitor a location of the wireless unit over-time; and    providing the monitored location information in response to the request.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 verifying authorization for said entity to obtain the location information for said wireless unit of interest independent of location finding preferences of the wireless unit of interest.    
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the obtaining is performed without the wireless unit of interest being notified of said location information being procured.    
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 procuring the location information from at least first and second location information sources, wherein said first and second location information sources employ first and second different location finding technologies.    
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 aggregating information from said at least first and second different location finding technologies to enhance the accuracy of said location information.    
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 verifying authorization includes verifying court ordered authorization.    
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing said monitored location information to a recipient at a location other than that associated with said requesting entity.    
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 comparing said location information to at least one location of interest to monitor the movement of said wireless unit relative to said point of interest.    
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 upon an uncertainty associated with said location information overlapping at least one location of interest, notifying a third party that said wireless unit is proximate to said at least one location of interest.    
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein said third party is one of an owner of the wireless device, a law enforcement agency, a parent, and an employer.  
   
   
       11 . A system for monitoring a location of a wireless unit of interest across multiple wireless networks, the system including a processor and a memory device including instructions that when executed by said processor causes the processor to: 
 establish communication between an entity requesting location information for a wireless unit of interest and a system operative to procure the location information, the communication utilizing a standardized format for requesting and providing said location information from any of multiple location information sources associated with any of multiple wireless networks;    obtain the location information from the system, including overriding a privacy setting associated with said wireless unit of interest where necessary to obtain the location information;    analyze the location information to monitor a location of the wireless unit over time; and    provide the monitored location information in response to the request.    
   
   
       12 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein the instructions when executed by said processor further cause the processor to: 
 verify authorization for said entity to obtain the location information for said wireless unit of interest independent of location finding preferences of the wireless unit of interest.    
   
   
       13 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the processor obtains the location information without the wireless unit of interest being notified of said location information being procured.    
   
   
       14 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the processor procures the location information from at least first and second location information sources, wherein said first and second location information sources employ first and second different location finding technologies.    
   
   
       15 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein the instructions when executed by said processor further cause the processor to: 
 aggregate information from at least first and second different location finding technologies to enhance the accuracy of said location information.    
   
   
       16 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein the instructions when executed by said processor further cause the processor to: 
 provide said monitored location information to a recipient at a location other than that associated with said requesting entity.    
   
   
       17 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein the instructions when executed by said processor further cause the processor to: 
 compare said location information to at least one location of interest to monitor the movement of said wireless unit relative to said point of interest.    
   
   
       18 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein the instructions when executed by said processor further cause the processor to: 
 upon an uncertainty associated with said location information overlapping at least one location of interest, notify a third party that said wireless unit is proximate to said at least one location of interest.    
   
   
       19 . A computer program product embedded in a computer readable medium for monitoring a location of a wireless unit of interest across multiple wireless networks, comprising: 
 program code for establishing communication between an entity requesting location information for a wireless unit of interest and a system operative to procure the location information, the communication utilizing a standardized format for requesting and providing said location information from any of multiple location information sources associated with any of multiple wireless networks;    program code for obtaining the location information from the system, including overriding a privacy setting associated with said wireless unit of interest where necessary to obtain the location information;    program code for analyzing the location information to monitor a location of the wireless unit over time; and    program code for providing the monitored location information in response to the request.    
   
   
       20 . A computer program product according to  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 program code for verifying authorization for said entity to obtain the location information for said wireless unit of interest independent of location finding preferences of the wireless unit of interest.    
   
   
       21 . A computer program product according to  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 program code for obtaining the location information without the wireless unit of interest being notified of said location information being procured.    
   
   
       22 . A computer program product according to  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 program code for procuring the location information from at least first and second location information sources, wherein said first and second location information sources employ first and second different location finding technologies.    
   
   
       23 . A computer program product according to  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 aggregating information from at least first and second different location finding technologies to enhance the accuracy of said location information.    
   
   
       24 . A computer program product according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 program code for providing the monitored location information includes program code for providing said monitored location information to a recipient at a location other than that associated with said requesting entity.    
   
   
       25 . A computer program product according to  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 program code for comparing said location information to at least one location of interest to monitor the movement of said wireless unit relative to said point of interest.    
   
   
       26 . A computer program product according to  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 program code for notifying a third party that said wireless unit is proximate to said at least one location of interest upon an uncertainty associated with said location information overlapping at least one location of interest.