Systems and methods for providing position information using a wireless communication device

• US 20030132877A1
• Filed: 01/14/2002
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Wireless Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Forrester, Tim
• Granted Patent: US 6,885,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0054 of actual mobile position, i.e. position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers

Abstract

A wireless communication device comprises a transmitter configured to transmit wireless communication signals and a receiver. The receiver comprises a GPS receiver configured to receive GPS signals and a wireless communications receiver configured to receive wireless communications signals. The wireless communication device also comprises a processor coupled with the receiver and the transmitter, the processor configured to process the GPS signals received by the GPS receiver and the wireless communications signals received by the wireless communication receiver, and to generate the wireless communication signals transmitted by the transmitter.

Claims

1. A receiver, comprising:

a GPS receiver configured to receive GPS signals;

a wireless communications receiver configured to receive wireless communications signals; and

a processor coupled with the GPS and wireless communication receivers, the processor configured to process the GPS signals and the wireless communications signals.

2. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a location of a device incorporating the receiver based on the GPS signals.

3. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to process network assist information related to the received GPS signals and to determine a position of a device incorporating the receiver based at least in part on the processed network assist information.

4. The receiver of claim 1, further comprising a single antenna coupled with the GPS receiver and the wireless communication receiver, the antenna configured to receive the GPS signals and to communicate them to the GPS receiver and to receive the wireless communication signals and to communicate them to the wireless communication receiver.

5. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the GPS receiver and the wireless communication receiver comprise a common demodulation circuit configured to demodulate both the received GPS signals and the received wireless communication signals.

6. A receiver, comprising:

a GPS receiver configured to receive GPS signals;

a wireless communications receiver configured to receive wireless communications signals;

an antenna coupled with the GPS receiver and the wireless communication receiver, the antenna configured to receive the GPS signals and communicate them to the GPS receiver and to receive the wireless communication signals and communicate them to the wireless communication receiver;

a common demodulator coupled with the GPS receiver and the wireless communication receiver, the common demodulator configured to demodulate the received GPS signals and the received wireless communication signals; and

a processor coupled with the GPS and wireless communication receivers, the processor configured to process the GPS signals and the wireless communications signals.

7. The receiver of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a location of a device incorporating the receiver based on the GPS signals.

8. The receiver of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to process network assist information related to the received GPS signals and to determine a position of a device incorporating the receiver based at least in part on the processed network assist information.

9. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit wireless communication signals;

a GPS receiver configured to receive GPS signals;

a wireless communications receiver configured to receive wireless communications signals; and

a processor coupled with the receiver and the transmitter, the processor configured to process the GPS signals received by the GPS receiver and the wireless communications signals received by the wireless communication receiver, and to generate the wireless communication signals transmitted by the transmitter.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 9, further configured to determine a location of a device incorporating the receiver based on the GPS signals.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 9, further configured to process network assist information related to the received GPS signals and to determine a position of the wireless communication device based at least in part on the processed network assist information.

12. The receiver of claim 9, further comprising a single antenna coupled with the transmitter, GPS receiver, and the wireless communication receiver, the antenna configured to receive the GPS signals and to communicate them to the GPS receiver and to receive the wireless communication signals and to communicate them to the wireless communication receiver.

13. The receiver of claim 9, wherein the GPS receiver and the wireless communication receiver comprise a common demodulation circuit configured to demodulate both the received GPS signals and the received wireless communication signals.

14. The receiver of claim 9, configured to:

receive a request for position information;

in response to the received request, check to see if network assisted positioning is available;

if network assisted positioning is not available, then disable the wireless communication receiver;

activate the GPS receiver;

receive the GPS signals; and

determine the position of a device incorporating the receiver.

15. The receiver of claim 14, further configured to perform the following if network assisted positioning is available:

process network assist information related to the received GPS signals; and

determine a position of a device incorporating the receiver based at least in part on the processed network assist information.

16. The receiver of claim 14, further comprising the step of loading GPS instructions when the GPS receiver is activated.

17. A method for obtaining position information using a wireless communication device, comprising:

receiving a request for position information;

in response to the received request, checking to see if network assisted positioning is available;

if network assisted positioning is not available, then disabling the wireless communication receiver;

activating the GPS receiver;

receiving the GPS signals; and

determining the position of a device incorporating the receiver.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising, if network assisted positioning is available:

processing network assist information related to the received GPS signals; and

determining a position of a device incorporating the receiver based at least in part on the processed network assist information.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising loading GPS instructions when the GPS receiver is activated.