MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Using a cell phone to locate your destination

Colin Dunstan · 03-13-2005, 10:32 AM

Pitney Bowes invented a system (Patent US2005048956) helping cell phone owners to receive directions by doing a single phone call.

First the user calls a specific service center. With the received call, the operator at the center can automatically obtain the location of the mobile user from the communications network using a triangulation method. With this knowledge, he can give the appropriate directions to the desired destination, which could be anything from a gas station to a restaurant.

I don't have to tell you that sophisticated triangulation could be easily abused. Even today, cell phone providers can determine their customers' location when they dial an emergency phone number. A mailbox bomb suspect was once tracked because of his mistake to turn on his cell phone. Which seems fine in this particular case. But what if someone uses the same technology to track individuals he just doesn't like for personal or political reasons? Where are the limits and who is in control of using triangulation techniques?

03-13-2005, 10:32 AM	#1
Colin Dunstan Is papyrophobic! Posts: 1,926 Karma: 1009999 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: USA Device: Dell Axim	Using a cell phone to locate your destination Pitney Bowes invented a system (Patent US2005048956) helping cell phone owners to receive directions by doing a single phone call. First the user calls a specific service center. With the received call, the operator at the center can automatically obtain the location of the mobile user from the communications network using a triangulation method. With this knowledge, he can give the appropriate directions to the desired destination, which could be anything from a gas station to a restaurant. I don't have to tell you that sophisticated triangulation could be easily abused. Even today, cell phone providers can determine their customers' location when they dial an emergency phone number. A mailbox bomb suspect was once tracked because of his mistake to turn on his cell phone. Which seems fine in this particular case. But what if someone uses the same technology to track individuals he just doesn't like for personal or political reasons? Where are the limits and who is in control of using triangulation techniques?