LOCATION OBTAINED BY COMBINING LAST KNOWN RELIABLE POSITION WITH POSITION CHANGES

• US 20090009397A1
• Filed: 07/06/2007
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Liren, Taylor, Kirk S., Steenstra, Jack
• Granted Patent: US 8,643,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/451
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/40 Correcting position, velocity or attitude
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/49 whereby the further system is an inertial position system, e.g. loosely-coupled

Abstract

Location of a wireless communication device is determined by a combination of geolocation and a detection of augmenting data such as acceleration and/or speed over time measurements. A last known terrestrial navigation fix is established based on reliable terrestrial navigation or GPS data. A zone of valid location fixes based on the last known terrestrial navigation fix and an output of a rate detection circuit can be established. A weighted average is taken of using independent location measurement and detected location using last known reliable position plus change in position by integrating position changes over time.

Claims

1. A method for determining location of a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

establishing a last known position fix based on reliable geo-positioning data;

detecting a first location condition;

establishing a zone of valid location fixes based on the last known reliable position fix and position changes from the last known reliable fix based on outputs corresponding to detection of the location changes;

establishing a weighted average of independently measured location fixes and location fixes based on combining last known reliable position with the zone of valid location fixes.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an event;

responding to the detected event to initialize a transmission by providing a signal through a multiuser subscriber network, and

selectively activating terrestrial navigation in accordance with sensed conditions by providing data augmentation.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an event; and

responding to the detected event to initialize a position fix by using GPS.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising

using rate detection to provide said detection of the location condition;

and

establishing a zone of valid location fixes based on the last known terrestrial navigation fix and an output of the rate detection circuit.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the rate detection including providing measurements of positional rate and directional orientation.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responding to the establishment of the last known terrestrial navigation fix by establishing said fix as an initial location.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing the weighted average based on the modifier and further location data.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising transmitting an alert signal upon detection of at least one location event.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an event;

responding to the detected event to initialize a transmission by providing a signal through a multiuser subscriber network, and

selectively activating data augmentation in accordance with sensed conditions.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting at least a first event related to location;

providing, in response to detection of the first event, the geolocation data by activating monitoring of geolocation;

using the geolocation data to detect a second event related to location;

in the case of detection of the second event related to location, providing geolocation data concerning the wireless communication device.

11. A wireless device for providing location data concerning an object, the wireless device comprising:

a wireless communication circuit capable of communication with a multiuser wireless subscriber network;

a geolocation circuit;

a rate detection device capable of detecting at least one variation in rate; and

a control circuit, responsive to the detection of the variation in rate to activate the geolocation circuit and the wireless communication circuit to provide geolocation data to the multiuser subscriber network.

12. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the control circuit:

responds to the geolocation circuit to establish a last known terrestrial navigation fix; and

responds to the rate detection device to derive position changes over time and establish a distance change based on an indication from the rate detection device and the

geolocation circuit.

13. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the control circuit provides a weighted average based on the detected variation in rate and further location data.

14. The wireless device of claim 11, further comprising a geolocation augmentation circuit, responsive to the rate detection device, to augment geolocation based on detected rate information.

15. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the rate detection device includes a rate detection circuit measuring positional acceleration and/or speed and directional orientation.

16. A processor comprising circuitry for performing the method of claim 11, comprising said processor provided as a chipset including at least one monolithic integrated circuit.

17. A machine readable medium comprising instructions for performing the method of claim 11.

18. A wireless device for providing location data concerning an object, the wireless device comprising:

a wireless communication circuit capable of communication with a multiuser wireless subscriber network;

a geolocation circuit;

a location augmentation circuit; and

a control circuit, responsive to the detection of the variation in rate to activate the geolocation circuit to establish a last known terrestrial navigation fix, and responsive to the location augmentation circuit to provide location update data, the control circuit establishing a zone of valid location fixes based on the location data, and providing a weighted average based on received location data and the zone of valid location fixes.

19. The wireless device of claim 18, further comprising a rate detection device, control circuit responsive to an output of the rate detection device and using said output in the establishment of the zone of valid location fixes.

20. The wireless device of claim 18, wherein the rate detection device includes a rate detection circuit measuring positional rate and directional orientation.

21. A processor comprising circuitry for performing the method of claim 18, comprising said processor provided as a chipset including at least one monolithic integrated circuit.

22. A machine readable medium comprising instructions for performing the method of claim 18.

23. A wireless device for providing location data concerning an object, the wireless device comprising:

a wireless communication circuit capable of communication with a multiuser wireless subscriber network;

a geolocation circuit;

an event detection device; and

a control circuit, responsive to movement rate detected by the movement rate detection device to activate the geolocation circuit and the wireless communication circuit to provide geolocation data to the multiuser subscriber network.

24. The wireless device of claim 23, wherein the event detection device includes a movement rate detection device.

25. The wireless device of claim 23, wherein the control circuit:

responds to the geolocation circuit to establish a last known terrestrial navigation fix;

responds to the rate detection device to establish a zone of valid location fixes based on an indication from the rate detection device and the geolocation circuit; and

provides a weighted average based on received location data and the zone of valid location fixes.

26. The wireless device of claim 23, further comprising a geolocation augmentation circuit, responsive to the movement rate detection device, to augment geolocation based on detected rate information.

27. The wireless device of claim 23, wherein the movement rate detection device includes a rate detection circuit measuring positional rate and directional orientation.

28. The wireless device of claim 23, wherein the data augmentation circuit further comprises:

a location augmentation circuit; and

the control circuit responsive to the detection of the variation in rate to activate the geolocation circuit to establish a last known terrestrial navigation fix, and responsive to the location augmentation circuit to provide location update data.

29. The wireless device of claim 28, further comprising a rate detection device, control circuit responsive to an output of the rate detection device and using said output in the establishment of the zone of valid location fixes.

30. The WCD of claim 23, wherein the control circuit includes a database, whereby upon detection of at least one location event, the control circuit causes the WCD to transmit an alert signal.

31. The WCD of claim 23, wherein the control circuit includes a database, whereby upon detection of at least one location event, the control circuit causes the WCD to transmit an alert signal, and provide further information in response to the location event.

32. The WCD of claim 23, wherein the control circuit includes a database, whereby upon detection of at least one location event, the control circuit causes the WCD to transmit a first alert signal, and upon detection of a second location event, the control circuit causes the WCD to transmit a second alert signal.

33. A processor comprising circuitry for performing the method of claim 23, comprising said processor provided as a chipset including at least one monolithic integrated circuit.

34. A machine readable medium comprising instructions for performing the method of claim 23.

35. Apparatus for providing information regarding the location of a wireless communication device, the apparatus comprising:

means for establishing a last known terrestrial navigation fix based on reliable terrestrial navigation data or GPS positioning method;

rate detection means; and

means for establishing a zone of valid location fixes based on the last known terrestrial navigation fix and an output of the rate detection means

36. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising the rate detection means providing measurements of positional rate and directional orientation.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising:

means for responding to the establishment of the last known terrestrial navigation fix by establishing said fix as an initial location; and

means, responsive to the rate detection means, to establish a zone of valid location fixes based on an output of the rate detection means, as a modifier of the initial location.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising means for establishing a weighted average based on the modifier and further location data.

39. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising:

means for detecting an event;

means, responsive to the detection of the detected event, to initialize a transmission by providing a signal through a multiuser subscriber network, and

means for selectively activating data augmentation in accordance with sensed conditions.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising means for transmitting an alert signal upon detection of at least one location event.