Systems and methods for local-area-network-assisted location determination

• US 10,172,073 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2013
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telcom Ventures LLC
• Original Assignee: Telcom Ventures LLC
• Inventors: Singh, Rajendra
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong, Duc T
• Application Number:
  US13/864,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20130279488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,085 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0063 of measured values, i.e. measurement on base station and position calculation on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0242 Determining the position of transmitters to be subsequently used in positioning G01S5/0289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02524 Creating or updating the radio-map
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Wi-Fi-based location determination methods may include receiving location information and/or identifier information regarding a Wi-Fi hot spot, at a database. The methods may include transmitting the location information and/or identifier information regarding the Wi-Fi hot spot, from the database to a positioning receiver. Related systems are also described.

Claims

1. A method of operating a positioning receiver, the method comprising:

receiving, via a non-cellular terrestrial beacon network, location change information indicating a change in a location of a Wi-Fi hot spot, at the positioning receiver;

determining whether the positioning receiver has greater confidence in the location change information or in positioning signals received by the positioning receiver using the non-cellular terrestrial beacon network; and

calculating a position location of the positioning receiver using the one of the location change information or the positioning signals received by the positioning receiver using the non-cellular terrestrial beacon network in which the positioning receiver has the greater confidence.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the positioning receiver has greater confidence in the location change information or in the positioning signals comprises:

comparing confidence in the location change information with confidence in the positioning signals.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising storing, in the positioning receiver, the confidence in the location change information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein storing comprises:

storing the confidence in the location change information along with Wi-Fi hot spot location and identifier information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the positioning signals from the non-cellular terrestrial beacon network at the positioning receiver.

6. A system for Wi-Fi-based location determination, the system comprising:

a listening device configured to;

receive signals from a Wi-Fi hot spot; and

transmit location information of the Wi-Fi hot spot, only in response to a change in a status of the Wi-Fi hot spot, via a wide area non-cellular terrestrial beacon network comprising a plurality of beacons that are configured to transmit GPS-like signals for location determination of positioning receivers; and

a database configured to;

receive the location information of the Wi-Fi hot spot from the listening device, via the wide area non-cellular terrestrial beacon network; and

transmit the location information of the Wi-Fi hot spot to a positioning receiver,

wherein the positioning receiver is configured to receive the location information of the Wi-Fi hot spot via the wide area non-cellular terrestrial beacon network,

wherein the positioning receiver is configured to calculate a position location of the positioning receiver, using one of;

the location information of the Wi-Fi hot spot;

or

positioning signals received by the positioning receiver using the wide area non-cellular terrestrial beacon network, and

wherein the positioning receiver is further configured to determine whether the positioning receiver has greater confidence in the location information of the Wi-Fi hot spot or in the positioning signals received by the positioning receiver using the wide area non-cellular terrestrial beacon network.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the listening device is configured to detect a change in a strength of the signals from the Wi-Fi hot spot and to determine the change in the status of the Wi-Fi hot spot in response to the change in the strength of the signals from the Wi-Fi hot spot.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the positioning receiver is configured to calculate the position location of the positioning receiver using the one of the location information of the Wi-Fi hot spot or the positioning signals received by the positioning receiver using the wide area non-cellular terrestrial beacon network in which the positioning receiver has the greater confidence.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the listening device comprises a first listening device;

the system further comprises a second listening device configured to receive the signals from the Wi-Fi hot spot, and configured to transmit the location information of the Wi-Fi hot spot in response to detecting or failing to detect the signals from the Wi-Fi hot spot; and

one of the first and second listening devices is installed at one of the plurality of beacons.