LIS (Location Information Server)

A functional element in an IP-capable originating network that provides locations of endpoints (i.e., calling device). A LIS can provide Location-byReference, or Location-by-Value, and, if the latter, in geo or civic forms. A LIS can be queried by an endpoint for its own location, or by another entity for the location of an endpoint. In either case, the LIS receives a unique identifier that represents the endpoint, for example an IP address, circuit-ID or Media Access Control (MAC) address, and returns the location (value or reference) associated with that identifier. The LIS is also the entity that provides the dereferencing service, exchanging a location reference for a location value.