METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING LOCATION INFORMATION OF A MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20080129588A1
• Filed: 01/15/2008
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lane, Chris, Lundgren, David Albert, Malkos, Steven
• Application Number:
  US12/014,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20080129588A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.06
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/254 relating to Doppler shift of satellite signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/258 relating to the satellite constellation, e.g. almanac, ephemeris data, lists of satellites in view
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/27 creating, predicting or correcting ephemeris or almanac data within the receiver

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining a location of a mobile station (“MS”) in a Global-Navigation-Satellite System is disclosed. The method includes obtaining an estimate of position associated with a mobile-country code (“MCC-position estimate”), wherein the mobile-country code is associated with a given country, and wherein the MCC-position estimate comprises an measure of uncertainty. The method also includes using the MCC-position estimate as a position of the mobile station (“MS position”) when the measure of uncertainty satisfies a given threshold. The MCC-position estimate may include, for example, a centroid of population (“population centroid”); the population centroid and a uncertainty measure associated with the population centroid; a centroid of geography (“geographic centroid”), the geographic centroid and an uncertainty measure associated with the geographic centroid, and/or any combination thereof.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining an estimate of position associated with a mobile-country code, wherein the mobile-country code is associated with a given country, and wherein the estimate of position associated with a mobile-country code comprises a measure of uncertainty; and

using the estimate of position associated with a mobile-country code as a position of a mobile station when the measure of uncertainty satisfies a given threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the position associated with a mobile-country code further comprises a centroid of population, and wherein the measure of uncertainty comprises a measure of uncertainty associated with the centroid of population.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the position associated with a mobile-country code further comprises a centroid of geography, and wherein the measure of uncertainty comprises an uncertainty measure associated with the centroid of geography.

4. A method comprising:

obtaining a centroid of a population, wherein the centroid is associated with a mobile-country code, and wherein the mobile-country code is associated with a given network; and

using the centroid as a position of a mobile station.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the centroid comprises an estimate of a position of the mobile station, the method further comprising:

determining, as a function of the estimate, a second position of the mobile station.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the centroid comprises an estimate of a position of the mobile station, the method further comprising:

obtaining at least one pseudorange to a satellite; and

determining, as a function of the at least one pseudorange and the estimate, a second position of the mobile station.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving from a requester a request for the position of the mobile station, wherein the request includes the mobile-country code; and

sending to the requester a response to the request, wherein the response includes the centroid.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the requester is the mobile station.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein obtaining a centroid of a population comprises:

sending to a data store a request for the centroid, wherein the request includes the mobile-country code; and

receiving from the data store a response to the request, wherein the response includes the centroid.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

obtaining a measure of uncertainty associated with the centroid, wherein using the centroid as a position of a mobile station comprises;

using the centroid as the position of the mobile station when the measure of uncertainty satisfies a given threshold.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the mobile station is at a given position, and wherein the measure of uncertainty is indicative of a likelihood that the centroid estimates the given position.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the given network defines a coverage area, and wherein the likelihood is formed as a function of a distance between the centroid and a coordinate-system point at a boundary of the coverage area.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the mobile-country code is associated with a given country, and wherein the likelihood is formed as a function of a distance between the centroid and a coordinate-system point of a boundary of the given country.

14. A method comprising:

sending a request for a position of a mobile station, wherein the request includes a mobile-country code associated with a given network; and

receiving a response to the request, wherein the response includes the position, and wherein the position comprises a centroid of a population that is associated with the mobile-country code.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the centroid comprises an estimate of a position of the mobile station, the method further comprising:

determining, as a function of the estimate, a second position of the mobile station.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the centroid comprises an estimate of a position of the mobile station, the method further comprising:

obtaining at least one pseudorange to a satellite; and

determining, as a function of the at least one pseudorange and the estimate, a second position of the mobile station.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

obtaining a measure of uncertainty associated with the centroid; and

using the centroid as the position when the measure of uncertainty satisfies a given threshold.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the mobile station is at a given position, and wherein the measure of uncertainty is indicative of a likelihood that the centroid estimates the given position.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the given network defines a coverage area, and wherein the likelihood is formed as a function of a distance between the centroid and a coordinate-system point at a boundary of the coverage area.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the mobile-country code is associated with a given country, and wherein the likelihood is formed as a function of a distance between the centroid and a coordinate-system point of a boundary of the given country.

21. An server comprising:

memory adapted to store executable instructions to;

obtain a centroid of a population, wherein the centroid is associated with a mobile-country code, and wherein the mobile-country code is associated with a given network; and

use the centroid as a position of a mobile station; and

a processor adapted to obtain from memory and to execute the executable instructions.

22. The server of claim 21, wherein the centroid comprises an estimate of a position of the mobile station, and wherein the memory is further adapted to store executable instructions to determine, as a function of the estimate, a second position of the mobile station.

23. The server of claim 21, wherein the centroid comprises an estimate of a position of the mobile station, and wherein the memory is further adapted to store executable instructions to:

obtain at least one pseudorange to a satellite; and

determine, as a function of the at least one pseudorange and the estimate, a second position of the mobile station.

24. The server of claim 21, wherein the memory is further adapted to store executable instructions to obtain a measure of uncertainty associated with the centroid, and wherein the executable instructions to use the centroid as a position of a mobile station comprise:

executable instructions to use the centroid as the position of the mobile station when the measure of uncertainty satisfies a given threshold.

25. The server of claim 24, wherein the mobile station is at a given position, and wherein the measure of uncertainty is indicative of a likelihood that the centroid estimates the given position.

26. The server of claim 25, wherein the given network defines a coverage area, and wherein the likelihood is formed as a function of a distance between the centroid and a coordinate-system point at a boundary of the coverage area.

27. The server of claim 25, wherein the mobile-country code is associated with a given country, and wherein the likelihood is formed as a function of a distance between the centroid and a coordinate-system point of a boundary of the given country.

28. An apparatus comprising:

memory adapted to store executable instructions to;

send a request for a position of a mobile station, wherein the request includes a mobile-country code associated with a given country; and

receive a response to the request, wherein the response includes the position, and wherein the position comprises a centroid of a population that is associated with the mobile-country code; and

a processor adapted to obtain from memory and to execute the executable instructions.