SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR REFRESHING DATA

• US 20100141470A1
• Filed: 05/12/2009
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Dandu, Ravikumar Varma, Delucchi, John Gerard, Trisko, Donovan Gerard, Bhatia, Ashok, Rowitch, Douglas Neal, Wu, Jie, Biacs, Zoltan, Marshall, Grant Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 8,866,588 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.360
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/258 relating to the satellite constellation, e.g. almanac, ephemeris data, lists of satellites in view
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/12 Avoiding congestion; Recovering from congestion

Abstract

A method performs an update for a first device that consumes information with a known expiration time. The first device operates within a network that accommodates other devices also consuming the information. The method includes setting a time for the first device to refresh the information, the time to refresh being based on a pseudorandom time offset. The method also includes sending a refresh request to a resource for the data during the set time.

Claims

1. A device generating output information by a process that uses data that is periodically refreshed, said device comprising:

a processing unit requesting a refresh of said data according to a time offset, said time offset generated using a randomization technique and falling within a time period associated with a known expiration time of said data.

2. The device of claim 1 comprising:

a Satellite Positioning System (SPS) Mobile Station (MS).

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said data comprises:

orbital data for one or more Space Vehicles (SVs).

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said device comprises a first mobile station that receives said data from a transmitter of a network, said network serving a plurality of other mobile stations that use said data.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing unit generates said time offset.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing unit requests said data from a server that provides said data to a plurality of other devices.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said functional unit requests said data about a newly available resource according to a time slot within a period, a placement of said time slot within said period being chosen pseudorandomly.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said device comprises an SPS mobile station, and wherein said newly available resource comprises one or more space vehicles visible to said SPS mobile station for fifteen minutes or less.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said time period begins after said known expiration time.

10. A method for performing an update for a first device, wherein said first device consumes information with a known expiration time, and wherein said first device operates within a network that accommodates other devices also consuming the information, said method comprising:

setting a time for said first device to refresh said information, said set time to refresh based on a time offset, said time offset being pseudorandom; and

sending a refresh request to a resource for said data, said refresh request sent during said set time to refresh.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said time offset corresponds to a selected slot of a plurality of slots within a defined time period.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said defined time period is defined with respect to said known expiration time.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said information comprises orbital data for one or more space vehicles, and wherein said defined time period begins after said known expiration time such that said orbital data is refreshed after a previously-received set of said orbital data expires.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein setting said time to refresh comprises:

generating a random number using a serial number of said first device.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein setting said time to refresh comprises:

generating a random number using a power up time of said first device.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

pseudorandomly selecting a time slot for requesting data for one or more newly available space vehicles.

17. A computer-readable medium encoded with instructions, when executed by a processing unit, perform an update, the instructions comprising:

code to receive data from a resource, said data being periodically refreshed by sending a refresh request to said resource;

code to send said refresh request during a pseudorandomly-placed time slot within a time period; and

code to receive refreshed data from said resource.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 further comprising:

code to use said data to produce output information.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein said output information comprises location information presented upon a screen.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein said data comprises orbital data for a space vehicle.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20 wherein said time period begins after a known expiration time for said orbital data.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 20 further comprising:

code to request other orbital data for a newly visible space vehicle at a pseudorandomly determined time.

23. A receiver comprising:

means for calculating an expiration time for data;

means for scheduling a time period associated with said expiration time, said time period divided into a plurality of time slots;

means for randomizing a selection of a first time slot of said plurality of time slots;

means for requesting said data according to said first time slot; and

means for receiving requested data.

24. The receiver of claim 23 comprising a mobile device.

25. The receiver of claim 24 wherein said means for randomizing comprises:

a random number generator using a serial number of said mobile device.

26. The receiver of claim 24 wherein said means for randomizing comprises:

a random number generator using a number based upon a power up time of said mobile device.

27. The receiver of claim 23, wherein the data comprises orbital data for a space vehicle, further comprising:

means for requesting other orbital data for a newly visible space vehicle at a pseudorandomly determined time.

28. A method for performing an update for a first device, wherein said first device consumes information with a known expiration time, and wherein said first device operates within a network that accommodates other devices also consuming the information, said method comprising:

receiving a request for said information from said first device;

generating data indicating a time for said first device to refresh said information, said generated data associated with a time offset, said time offset being pseudorandom; and

sending said generated data to said first device.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said time offset corresponds to a selected slot of a plurality of slots within a defined time period.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said defined time period is defined with respect to said known expiration time.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said information comprises orbital data for one or more space vehicles, and wherein said defined time period begins after said known expiration time such that said orbital data is refreshed after a previous set of said orbital data expires.

32. The method of claim 28 performed by a position determination entity within said network.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said position determination entity comprises a server computer, and said network comprises a wireless network.