Pinging

Definition
"Cellular service providers typically do not maintain records of the GPS coordinates of cellular telephones operating on their network, but the providers may generate such location data at any time by sending a signal directing the built-in satellite receiver in a particular cellular telephone to calculate its location and transmit the location data back to the service provider. This process, known as pinging, is undetectable to the cellular telephone user." In re United States ex rel. an Order Authorizing Disclosure of a Specified Wireless Telephone, 849 F.Supp.2d 526, 534 (D. Md. 2011).