System and Method for Location Transparency

Abstract

A service that augments a key element of Unified Messaging and Unified Communications initiatives—i.e., Mobile Subscriber Location Awareness—to enhance substantially the value, usefulness, etc. of the presence awareness, place shifting, etc. components of such initiatives. The service may optionally leverage the capabilities of a centrally-located, full-featured Messaging Inter-Carrier Vendor.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
   
   
       30 . A method for providing contact information for a Mobile Subscriber (MS), the method comprising:
 receiving from the MS registration information comprising (i) information about predetermined locations frequented by the MS and (ii) contact information corresponding to at least one of the predetermined locations;   receiving from a wireless carrier providing service to a Wireless Device (WD) of the MS an indication of a location of the WD, yielding a current WD location;   based at least in part on the current WD location, identifying one of the predetermined locations frequented by the MS as a current MS location;   receiving at a gateway a contact inquiry for the MS, the contact inquiry comprising a MS identifier;   based at least in part on the MS identifier selecting contact information corresponding to the current MS location, if any, yielding current MS contact information; and   generating a response message comprising the current MS contact information.   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the MS identifier is one of (a) a name, (b) a telephone number, (c) an E-Mail address, or (d) an instant messaging handle. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the indication of a location of the WD is received continuously. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the indication of a location of the WD comprises a latitude value and a longitude value. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising requiring a third party who initiated the contact inquiry to complete a registration process. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising receiving authorization from the MS to release the current MS contact information based on information received during the third party registration process. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising altering aspects of the current MS contact information based on an identity of the third party. 
   
   
       37 . A method for providing contact information for a Mobile Subscriber (MS), the method comprising:
 receiving from a wireless carrier providing service to a Wireless Device (WD) of the MS information on a location of the WD, yielding a current WD location;   based at least in part on the current WD location updating a repository comprising predefined locations frequented by the MS yielding a current MS location;   receiving at a gateway a contact inquiry for the MS, the contact inquiry comprising a MS identifier;   based at least in part on the MS identifier retrieving from the repository contact information corresponding to the current MS location, if any, yielding current MS contact information; and   generating a response message comprising the current MS contact information.   
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the MS identifier is one of (a) a name, (b) a telephone number, (c) an E-Mail address, or (d) an instant messaging handle. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising requiring a third party who initiated the contact inquiry to complete a registration process. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising receiving authorization from the MS to release the current MS contact information based on information received during the third party registration process. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising altering aspects of the current MS contact information based on an identity of the third party. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the information on a location of the WD is received continuously. 
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the information on a location of the WD comprises a latitude value and a longitude value.