Method and device for position determination

• US 20020019698A1
• Filed: 07/02/2001
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Mattila, Arto, Vilppula, Matti, Niemi, Markku
• Granted Patent: US 7,558,696 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0263 by combining or switching between positions derived from two or more separate positioning systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• 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 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method and device for position determination, in which one or more application (201, 202) requests a positioning method selection device (204) for positioning data. The positioning method selection device provides an application with positioning data using one or more positioning method (205 to 209) in accordance with settings defined by the application and/or the user. The positioning method selection device (204) receives a positioning request from an application (201, 202), forms a parameter or parameters indicating the quality of positioning requested by the application, compares the quality of positioning data provided by the positioning methods with the positioning quality required by the application, and sends positioning data to the application (201, 202) in response to the positioning request.

Claims

1. A method for the determination of position using one or more positioning method, wherein a positioning method selection device is provided for centrally managing the use of said one or more positioning method.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said positioning method selection device is implemented in a terminal device.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said terminal device is a portable terminal device.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said one or more positioning method is implemented in said terminal device.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said one or more positioning method is external to said terminal device.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said positioning method selection device registers the connection of a positioning method external to said terminal device.

7. A method according to claim 2, wherein said terminal device is a mobile terminal of a mobile communications network.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said positioning method selection device manages interaction between one or more application program and said one or more positioning method.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said positioning method selection device receives a request for positioning data from said one or more application program.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said positioning method selection device receives an indication of a quality requirement for said positioning data set by said one or more application program.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said positioning method selection device selects a positioning method for use by said one or more application program which can provide positioning data that fulfils said quality requirement.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein said positioning method selection device maintains a record of which of said one or more positioning method is available for use by said one or more application program.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein said positioning method selection device monitors the operating condition of said one or more positioning method.

14. A method according to claim 8, wherein said positioning method selection device receives at least one condition for selection of a positioning method for use from said one or more application program.

15. A method according to claim 2, wherein said positioning method selection device receives at least one condition for selection of a positioning method from a user of said terminal device.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said at least one condition for selection of a positioning method received from the user comprises at least one of the following:

an order or preference relating to selection of a positioning method, a desired quality of positioning data.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein said at least one condition for selection of a positioning method received from the user is entered directly into the positioning method selection device via a user interface of the terminal device.

18. A method according to claim 14, wherein said positioning method selection device applies said at least one condition for selection of a positioning method received from said one or more application program to all of said one or more application program.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein said positioning method selection device receives positioning data from said one or more positioning method.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein said positioning method selection device determines whether the positioning data received from said one or more positioning method fulfils said quality requirement received from said one or more application program.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein said positioning method selection device determines whether the positioning data received from said one or more positioning method fulfils said at least one condition received from the user.

22. A method according to claim 19, wherein said positioning method selection device receives and combines positioning data from more than one positioning method.

23. A method according to claim 19, wherein said positioning method selection device provides said positioning data to said at least one application program.

24. A method according to claim 19, wherein said positioning method selection device provides said positioning data to said at least one application program in a format requested by said at least one application program.

25. A method according to claim 19, wherein said positioning method selection device provides positioning data obtained in connection with a request for positioning data from a first application program to said first application program and to a second application program.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein said positioning method selection device provides said positioning data obtained in connection with a request for positioning data from a first application program to said second application program if said positioning data fulfils a quality requirement set by said second application program.

27. A method according to claim 19, wherein if said positioning data received from said one or more positioning method does not fulfil the quality requirement set by said one or more application program, said positioning method selection device informs said one or more application program that said positioning data does not fulfil said quality requirement.

28. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

maintaining a centralised register on at least one positioning property of said one or more positioning method;

maintaining a centralised register comprising at least one specified condition for selecting a positioning method;

allowing said one or more application program to send a positioning request; and

selecting a positioning method for use that fulfils at least one specified condition for selecting a positioning method.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein said at least one positioning property of said one or more positioning method comprises at least one parameter indicating a quality of positioning.

30. A method according to claim 28, wherein said at least one specified condition for selecting a positioning method comprises at least one value required for at least one parameter indicating a quality of positioning.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein said at least one parameter value is specified by an application program that sends a positioning request.

32. A method according to claim 28, wherein said selection is performed in accordance with at least one specified condition by comparing at least one positioning property of one or more positioning method with at least one positioning condition of a received positioning request.

33. A method according to claim 28, wherein in said centralised register, in which at least one register is maintained on positioning properties of one or more positioning methods, at least one register is also maintained on at least one expected value of said at least one positioning property of said one or more positioning method.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein said at least one expected value is maintained by maintaining continuous connection with said one or more positioning method.

35. A method according to claim 33, wherein said at least one expected value is updated by receiving a value from at least one positioning method.

37. A device according to claim 36, wherein it is a portable terminal device.

38. A device according to claim 36, wherein it comprises at least one of said one or more positioning method.

39. A device according to claim 36, wherein at least one of said one or more positioning method is external to said device.

40. A device according to claim 39, wherein said positioning method selection device registers the connection of a positioning method external to said device.

41. A device according to claim 36, wherein it is a mobile terminal of a mobile communications network.

42. A device according to claim 36, wherein said positioning method selection device comprises means for managing interaction between one or more application program and said one or more positioning method.

43. A device according to claim 42, wherein said positioning method selection device comprises means for receiving a request for positioning data from said one or more application program.

44. A device according to claim 43, wherein said positioning method selection device comprises means for receiving an indication of a quality requirement for said positioning data set by said one or more application program.

45. A device according to claim 44, wherein said positioning method selection device comprises means for selecting a positioning method for use by said one or more application program which can provide positioning data that fulfils said quality requirement.

46. A device according to claim 42, wherein said positioning method selection device comprises means for maintaining a record of which of said one or more positioning method is available for use by said one or more application program.

47. A device according to claim 36, wherein said positioning method selection device comprises means for monitoring the operating condition of said one or more positioning method.

48. A device according to claim 42, wherein said positioning method selection device comprises means for receiving at least one condition for selection of a positioning method for use from said one or more application program.

49. A device according to claim 36, wherein said positioning method selection device comprises means for receiving at least one condition for selection of a positioning method from a user of the device.

50. A device according to claim 49, wherein said at least one condition for selection of a positioning method comprises at least one of the following:

an order or preference relating to selection of a positioning method, a desired quality of positioning data.

51. A device according to claim 49, wherein said device comprises a user interface comprising means for allowing the user to enter at least one condition for selection of a positioning method directly into the positioning method selection device.

52. A device according to claim 48, wherein said positioning method selection device comprises means for applying said at least one condition for selection of a positioning method received from said user of the device to all of said one or more application program.

53. A device according to claim 42, wherein said positioning method selection device comprises means for receiving positioning data from said one or more positioning method.

54. A device according to claim 53, wherein said positioning method selection device comprises means for determining whether the positioning data received from said one or more positioning method fulfils said quality requirement received from said one or more application program.

55. A device according to claim 53, wherein said positioning method selection device comprises means for determining whether the positioning data received from said one or more positioning method fulfils said at least one condition received from the user.

56. A device according to claim 53, wherein said positioning method selection device comprises means for combining positioning data from more than one positioning method.

57. A device according to claim 53, wherein said positioning method selection device comprises means for providing said positioning data to said at least one application program.

58. A device according to claim 53, wherein said positioning method selection device comprises means for providing said positioning data to said at least one application program in a format requested by said at least one application program.

59. A device according to claim 53, wherein said positioning method selection device comprises means for providing positioning data obtained in connection with a request for positioning data from a first application program to said first application program and means for providing positioning data obtained in connection with a request for positioning data from a first application program to a second application program.

60. A device according to claim 59, wherein said means for providing positioning data obtained in connection with a request for positioning data from a first application program to a second application program comprise means for providing the positioning data to said second application program if said positioning data fulfils a quality requirement set by said second application program.

61. A device according to claim 53, wherein said positioning method selection device comprises means for informing said one or more application program that said positioning data does not fulfil said quality requirement if said positioning data received from said one or more positioning method does not fulfil the quality requirement set by said one or more application program.

62. A device according to claim 36, comprising:

first maintaining means for maintaining a centralised register on at least one positioning property of said one or more positioning method;

second maintaining means for maintaining a centralised register on at least one specified condition for selecting a positioning method;

means for allowing a positioning request to be sent by one or more application program;

selection means for selecting a positioning method for use that fulfils at least one specified condition for selecting a positioning method.

63. A device according to claim 62, wherein said first maintaining means is implemented to maintain a register comprising at least one parameter value indicating a quality of positioning provided by said one or more positioning method.

64. A device according to claim 62, wherein said second maintaining means is implemented to maintain a register on at least one required value for said at least one parameter indicating a quality of positioning.

65. A device according to claim 62, wherein said second maintaining means is implemented to maintain a register on at least one specified condition indicative of a preferred order of said one or more positioning method.

66. A device according to claim 62, wherein said second maintaining means is implemented to maintain a register on at least one specified condition for allowing the use of a specified positioning method.

67. A device according to claim 62, wherein said selection means for selecting a positioning method for use further comprises comparison means.

68. A device according to claim 67, wherein said comparison means is implemented to compare at least one parameter value indicating a quality of positioning provided by said one or more positioning method with at least one parameter value indicating a required quality of positioning in a received positioning request.

69. A device according to claim 62, wherein said first maintaining means for maintaining a centralised register on at least one positioning property of said one or more positioning method further comprises forming means for forming at least one expected value for at least one positioning property of said one or more positioning method.

70. A device according to claim 69, wherein said forming means is implemented to form said at least one expected value by being in continuous connection with said one or more positioning method.

71. A device according to claim 70, wherein said forming means is implemented to update said at least one expected value by receiving a parameter value from said at least one positioning method.

36. A device for the determination of position using one or more positioning method, comprising a positioning method selection device for centrally managing the use of said one or more positioning method.

72. A computer program product for the determination of position using one or more positioning method, comprising computer program means implementing a positioning method selection device for centrally managing the use of said one or more positioning method.

73. A computer program product according to claim 72, comprising:

computer program means for maintaining a first centralised register on at least one positioning property of said one or more positioning method;

computer program means for maintaining a second centralised register on at least one specified condition for selecting a positioning method;

computer program means for allowing a positioning request to be sent by one or more application program;

computer program means for selecting a positioning method for use that fulfils at least one specified condition for selecting a positioning method.