Location processing in small cells implementing multiple air interfaces

• US 10,028,188 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2016
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Sharony, Jacob, Sheikh, Khurram Parviz
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Brandon J
• Application Number:
  US15/346,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20170150412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/322 by location data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A heterogeneous network which supports multiple communication technologies (e.g., communication in accordance with multiple air interface standards) in a unified architecture can provide near-term solutions to capacity problems. Specifically, in one embodiment, a heterogeneous network that includes both macro-base cells and pico cells and that incorporates longer range wireless air interfaces (e.g., second, third, or fourth generation wireless air interface standards) and shorter range wireless air interfaces (e.g., Wi-Fi) can be provided. Such a heterogeneous network can include the coordination of security, quality of service, assessment of mobility of user equipment, authentication, provisioning systems, and location information.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a first Wi-Fi wireless transceiver configured for performing data communications;

a second Wi-Fi wireless transceiver configured for performing positioning communications with a plurality of Wi-Fi access points;

processing circuitry configured to determine a location of the wireless communication device based on the positioning communications; and

controller circuitry configured to cause the second Wi-Fi wireless transceiver to perform the positioning communications with the plurality of Wi-Fi access points concurrently with performance of the data communications by the first Wi-Fi wireless transceiver, wherein to perform the positioning communications, the controller circuitry is configured to cause the second Wi-Fi wireless transceiver to transmit and receive Wi-Fi signals.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first Wi-Fi wireless transceiver is configured to receive the data communications through a first antenna, and the second Wi-Fi wireless transceiver is configured to receive the positioning communications through a second antenna.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the first Wi-Fi wireless transceiver is configured for communication with an access point associated with a higher Quality of Service (QoS) level for performance of the data communications, and

wherein the second Wi-Fi wireless transceiver is configured for receipt of signals from one or more access points associated with a lower QoS level for performance of the positioning communications.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first Wi-Fi wireless transceiver is configured to receive the data communications through an antenna, and the second Wi-Fi wireless transceiver is configured to receive the positioning communications through the antenna.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions for execution by processing circuitry of a wireless communication device to configure the device to perform operation for data communication and positioning, the instructions to:

configure a first Wi-Fi wireless transceiver of the wireless communication device for performing data communications;

configure a second Wi-Fi wireless transceiver of the wireless communication device for performing positioning communications with a plurality of Wi-Fi access points;

configure processing circuitry to determine a location of the wireless communication device based on the positioning communications; and

configure the second Wi-Fi wireless transceiver to perform the positioning communications with the plurality of Wi-Fi access points concurrently with configuring the first Wi-Fi wireless transceiver to perform the data communications, wherein to perform the positioning communications, the instructions configure the second Wi-Fi wireless transceiver to transmit and receive Wi-Fi signals.

6. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein the first Wi-Fi wireless transceiver is configured to receive the data communications through a first antenna, and the second Wi-Fi wireless transceiver is configured to receive the positioning communications through a second antenna.

7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein the first Wi-Fi wireless transceiver is configured for communication with an access point associated with a higher Quality of Service (QoS) level for performance of the data communications, and

wherein the second Wi-Fi wireless transceiver is configured for receipt of signals from one or more access points associated with a lower QoS level for performance of the positioning communications.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein the first Wi-Fi wireless transceiver is configured to receive the data communications through an antenna, and the second Wi-Fi wireless transceiver is configured to receive the positioning communications through the antenna.

9. A communication device, comprising:

a first Wi-Fi transceiver configurable for performing data communications with an access point associated with a higher quality of service (QoS);

a second Wi-Fi transceiver configurable for performing positioning communications with a plurality of access points associated with a lower QoS;

processing circuitry configured to determine a location of the communication device based on the positioning communications; and

controller circuitry configured to cause the second Wi-Fi transceiver to perform the positioning communications with the plurality of access points concurrently with performance of the data communications by the first Wi-Fi transceiver.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the first Wi-Fi transceiver is configured to receive the data communications through an antenna, and the second Wi-Fi transceiver is configured to receive the positioning communications through the antenna.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the first Wi-Fi transceiver is configured to receive the data communications through a first antenna, and the second Wi-Fi transceiver is configured to receive the positioning communications through a second antenna.

12. A method performed by a wireless communication device for data communication and positioning, the method comprising:

configuring a first Wi-Fi wireless transceiver of the wireless communication device to perform data communications;

configuring a second Wi-Fi wireless transceiver of the wireless communication device to perform positioning communications with a plurality of Wi-Fi access points;

configuring processing circuitry to determine a location of the wireless communication device based on the positioning communications; and

configuring the second Wi-Fi wireless transceiver to perform the positioning communications with the plurality of Wi-Fi access points concurrently with configuring the first Wi-Fi wireless transceiver to perform the data communications, wherein to perform the positioning communications, the instructions configure the second Wi-Fi wireless transceiver to transmit and receive Wi-Fi signals.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first Wi-Fi wireless transceiver is configured for communication with an access point associated with a higher Quality of Service (QoS) level for performance of the data communications, and

wherein the second Wi-Fi wireless transceiver is configured for receipt of signals from one or more access points associated with a lower QoS level for performance of the positioning communications.