Method of Determining a Location of a Mobile Device and Method of Managing a List for Use in Such a Method

• US 20100159885A1
• Filed: 12/17/2009
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke KPN NV, Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke KPN NV, Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno
• Inventors: Norp, Antonius Hendrikus Johannes, Selgert, Franklin
• Granted Patent: US 8,818,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0226 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02527 Detecting or resolving anomalies in the radio frequency fingerprints of the radio-map
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0263 by combining or switching between positions derived from two or more separate positioning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0284 Relative positioning
• 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 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of determining a location of a mobile device for use in a first communication network and a second communication network. The mobile device is camped on a cellular base station in the second communication network. According to the method, a list of records of communication units within the first and/or second communication network that are located within a predetermined geographical area is obtained. A communication unit record contains information representative of the identity of the respective communication unit, information representative of a position of the respective communication unit, and a reliability indication of the respective communication unit. Additionally, with the mobile device, communication units within the first and second communication network are detected. Finally, the location of the mobile device is detected based on the information representative of the position, the reliability indication, and an accuracy indication of the detected communication units.

Claims

1. A method of determining a location of a mobile device for use in a first communication network and a second communication network, and in communication with a cellular base station in the second communication network, the method comprising:

the mobile device obtaining a list of records of communication units within the first and/or second communication network that are located within a predetermined geographical area, the communication unit records comprising information representative of the identity of each respective communication units, information representative of a position of each respective communication units, and a reliability indication of each respective communication unit;

the mobile device detecting communication units within the first and second communication network; and

the mobile device determining the location of the mobile device based on the information representative of the position, the reliability indication, as well as an accuracy indication of the detected communication units.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication unit record provides the mobile device with said accuracy indication.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device obtains said accuracy indication directly from information provided by each respective communication unit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a nominal coverage area of a communication unit within the second communication network is larger than a nominal coverage area of a communication unit within the first communication network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said obtaining comprises:

the mobile device sending a request for reception of said list to a cellular base station; and

the mobile device receiving said list in response.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said obtaining comprises receiving said list via a broadcast transmission.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining comprises:

the mobile device determining a reliability order of the detected communication units based on their reliability indication;

the mobile device determining an accuracy order of the detected communication units based on their accuracy indication;

the mobile device selecting a subset of communication units based on the reliability order and the accuracy order in accordance with a selection scheme, and

the mobile device determining the location of the mobile device based on positions of the selected subset of communication units.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said selection scheme comprises:

the mobile device determining, among the detected communication units, whether a position of a detected communication unit with a highest accuracy fulfills a predefined condition with respect to a detected communication unit with a highest reliability;

the mobile device discarding the detected communication unit with highest accuracy if its position does not fulfill the condition;

the mobile device repeating said determining and discarding for respective detected communication units with a next highest accuracy until a pre-determined number of detected communication units has been processed; and

the mobile device determining a geographical location of the mobile device based on positions of detected and processed communication units that have not been discarded.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the pre-determined number equals all detected communication units.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the predefined condition is that the distance between the position indicated by the position information of the selected communication unit with highest accuracy and the position indicated by the position information of the selected communication unit with highest reliability is less than a sum of the radius of the coverage area of the two selected communication units.

11. A mobile device arranged to be part of a first communication network and a second communication network, the mobile device comprising:

a receiver for receiving data from one or more communication units in the first communication network and/or the second communication network;

a memory for storing a list of records of communication units located within a predetermined geographical area; and

a processor for processing data received via said receiver and/or processing the list stored in said memory and further configured to;

obtain the list of records of communication units within the first and/or second communication network that are located within a predetermined geographical area, the communication unit records comprising information representative of the identity of each respective communication units, information representative of a position of each respective communication units, and a reliability indication of each respective communication unit;

detect communication units within the first and second communication network; and

determine the location of the mobile device based on the information representative of the position, the reliability indication, as well as an accuracy indication of the detected communication units.

12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the communication unit record provides the mobile device with said accuracy indication.

13. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the mobile device obtains said accuracy indication directly from information provided by each respective communication unit.

14. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein a nominal coverage area of a communication unit within the second communication network is larger than a nominal coverage area of a communication unit within the first communication network.

15. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

send a request for reception of said list to a cellular base station; and

receive said list in response.

16. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to receive said list via a broadcast transmission.

17. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a reliability order of the detected communication units based on their reliability indication;

determine an accuracy order of the detected communication units based on their accuracy indication;

select a subset of communication units based on the reliability order and the accuracy order in accordance with a selection scheme, and

determine the location of the mobile device based on positions of the selected subset of communication units.

18. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine, among the detected communication units, whether a position of a detected communication unit with a highest accuracy fulfills a predefined condition with respect to a detected communication unit with a highest reliability;

discard the detected communication unit with highest accuracy if its position does not fulfill the condition;

repeat the determining and discarding for respective detected communication units with a next highest accuracy until a pre-determined number of detected communication units has been processed; and

determine a geographical location of the mobile device based on positions of detected and processed communication units that have not been discarded.

19. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the pre-determined number equals all detected communication units.

20. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the predefined condition is that the distance between the position indicated by the position information of the selected communication unit with highest accuracy and the position indicated by the position information of the selected communication unit with highest reliability is less than a sum of the radius of the coverage area of the two selected communication units.

21. A method of managing a list stored in a cellular base station, the list comprising records of communication units located within a predetermined geographical area, the communication unit records comprising information representative of an identity of each respective communication unit, information representative of a position of each respective communication unit, and a reliability indication of each respective communication unit, the method comprising:

receiving a message from a communication unit, the message comprising the information representative of the identity of the communication unit, and information representative of the position of the communication unit;

if the information representative of the identity of the communication unit relates to a communication unit for which a record is already present in the list, amending the information representative of the position of the communication unit in the list if the position information in the list differs from the position information in the message; and

if the information representative of the identity of the communication unit relates to a communication unit that is not present in the list, adding a record of the communication unit to the list, including the information representative of the identity of the communication unit, and the information representative of the position of the communication unit.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the message further comprises a reliability indication of the communication unit, wherein said amending is further performed if the reliability indication in the list differs from the reliability indication in the message for the communication unit, and wherein adding said record includes adding the reliability indication of the communication unit.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the communication unit records further comprise an accuracy indication,

wherein the message received from a communication unit further comprises an accuracy indication,

wherein said amending further comprises amending the accuracy indication in the list if the accuracy indication in the list differs from the accuracy indication in the message, and

wherein adding said record includes adding the accuracy indication of the communication unit.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the communication records further comprise information representative of one or more types of radio technology supported by the respective communication unit;

wherein the message received from a communication unit further comprises the information representative of one or more types of radio technology supported by the communication unit,

wherein said amending further comprises amending the information representative of the one or more types of radio technology supported by the communication unit in the list if the types of radio technology supported differs from the same information received in the message, and wherein adding said record includes adding the information representative of the one or more types of radio technology supported by the communication unit.

25. A cellular base station comprising:

a receiver for receiving data from one or more communication units in a first communication network and/or a second communication network;

a transmitter for transmitting data towards one or more communication units in the first communication network and/or the second communication network;

a database for storing data including a list of communication unit information;

a processor for processing data received via said receiver and/or stored in said memory, and further configured to;

receive a message from a communication unit, the message comprising the information representative of the identity of the communication unit, and information representative of the position of the communication unit;

if the information representative of the identity of the communication unit relates to a communication unit for which a record is already present in the list, amend the information representative of the position of the communication unit in the list, if the position information in the list differs from the position information in the message; and

if the information representative of the identity of the communication unit relates to a communication unit that is not present in the list, add a record of the communication unit to the list, including the information representative of the identity of the communication unit, and the information representative of the position of the communication unit.

26. The cellular base station of claim 25, wherein the message further comprises a reliability indication of the communication unit, wherein said amending is further performed if the reliability indication in the list differs from the reliability indication in the message for the communication unit, and wherein adding said record includes adding the reliability indication of the communication unit.

27. The cellular base station of claim 26, wherein the communication unit records further comprise an accuracy indication,

wherein the message received from a communication unit further comprises an accuracy indication,

wherein said amending further comprises amending the accuracy indication in the list if the accuracy indication in the list differs from the accuracy indication in the message, and

wherein adding said record includes adding the accuracy indication of the communication unit.

28. The cellular base station of claim 26, wherein the communication records further comprise information representative of one or more types of radio technology supported by the respective communication unit;

wherein the message received from a communication unit further comprises the information representative of one or more types of radio technology supported by the communication unit,

wherein said amending further comprises amending the information representative of the one or more types of radio technology supported by the communication unit in the list if the types of radio technology supported differs from the same information received in the message, and wherein adding said record includes adding the information representative of the one or more types of radio technology supported by the communication unit.

29. The cellular base station of claim 25, wherein the transmitter is further arranged to transmit said list via a broadcast channel.

30. The cellular base station of claim 25, wherein the receiver is further arranged to receive a request form a mobile device for providing the list to the mobile device, and the processor is further configured to provide said list via said transmitter in response to said request.

31. An access point comprising:

a memory storing information representative of an identity of the access point, information representative of a position of the access point, and a reliability indication of the access point;

a receiver for detecting one or more cellular base stations within a second communication network; and

a processor for enabling transmission of said access point identifier, said information representative of the position of the access point, and said information representative of the one or more types of radio technology supported by the access point to said one or more cellular base stations.

32. The access point of claim 31, wherein the memory further stores at least one of an accuracy indication and information representative of one or more types of radio technology supported by the access point.

33. The access point of claim 31, further comprising a position determination unit for determining the position of the access point and storing the determined position in the memory.

34. The access point of claim 33, wherein said processor enables transmission of the determined position by the access point to said one or more cellular base stations.