ENVIRONMENT-SPECIFIC MEASUREMENT WEIGHTING IN WIRELESS POSITIONING

• US 20100178934A1
• Filed: 01/12/2010
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Rowitch, Douglas Neal, Moeglein, Mark Leo
• Application Number:
  US12/686,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20100178934A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/12 wherein the cooperating elements are telecommunication base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0263 by combining or switching between positions derived from two or more separate positioning systems

Abstract

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for estimating a location of a mobile station based, at least in part, on one or more measurements obtained from the mobile station based at least in part on one or more signals received by the mobile station from one or more signal sources. Such measurements may be combined based, at least in part, on estimates of measurement errors associated with the signal sources. In a particular implementation, such error estimates may be updated to account for changes in an operational environment.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining one or more measurements, at a mobile station, based at least in part on one or more signals received by the mobile station from one or more signal sources;

updating estimates of measurement errors associated with at least one of the one or more signal sources based, at least in part, on one or more historical measurements associated with the at least one of the one or more signal sources; and

estimating a location of the mobile station based, at least in part, on the one or more measurements and the updated estimates of measurement errors associated with the at least one of the one or more signal sources.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more signal sources comprises a satellite vehicle (SV) as part of a Satellite Positioning System (SPS), and at least one of the one or more signal sources comprises one or more terrestrial base stations.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more terrestrial base stations comprise a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 2000 system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the estimating a location of the mobile station is performed within an asynchronous system.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising estimating a frame timing relationship of the asynchronous system.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising estimating a timing uncertainty of the asynchronous system.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising filtering the one or more measurements.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of bias information or uncertainty/speed is determined via the filtering.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising estimating at least one coverage area associated with the one or more measurement sources.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising estimating a size or a confidence interval for the size of the at least one coverage area.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining at least one pseudorange measurement to at least one of the one or more signal sources.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising updating the estimates of the measurement errors with the at least one pseudorange measurement.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the estimates of measurement errors comprise measurements obtained over a predetermined time interval.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the estimates of measurement errors are stored in at least one measurement error model/map.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising updating the at least one measurement error model/map with the updated estimates of the measurement errors.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising updating one or more forward link calibration values of the at least one measurement error model/map based at least in part on measurements associated with one or more location fixes for the mobile station.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising updating one or more Maximum Antenna Range (MAR) values of the at least one measurement error model/map based at least in part on measurements associated with one or more location fixes for the mobile station.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver to receive, from a mobile station, one or more measurements based at least in part on one or more signals received by the mobile station from one or more signal sources;

one or more processing units programmed with instructions to;

update estimates of measurement errors associated with at least one of the one or more signal sources based, at least in part, on one or more historical measurements associated with the at least one of the one or more signal sources; and

estimate a location of the mobile station based, at least in part, on the one or more measurements and the updated estimates of measurement errors associated with the at least one of the one or more signal sources.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the one or more processing units are further programmed with instructions to obtain at least one pseudorange measurement to at least one of the signal sources.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the estimates of measurement errors are obtained over a predetermined time interval.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the one or more processing units are further programmed with instructions to estimate the location of the mobile station within an asynchronous system.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the one or more processing units are further programmed with instructions to estimate a timing of the asynchronous system.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the one or more processing units are further programmed with instructions to estimate a timing uncertainty of the asynchronous system.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the one or more processing units are further programmed with instructions to estimate the location of the mobile station based, at least in part, on filtering the one or more measurements.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the filtering provides at least one of bias information or uncertainty/speed.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the one or more processing units are further programmed with instructions to estimate at least one coverage area associated with the one or more signal sources.

27. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the one or more processing units are further programmed with instructions to update at least one measurement error model/map with the updated estimates of measurement errors.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the instructions, in response to being executed by the one or more processing units, further direct the one or more processing units to update one or more forward link calibration values of the at least one measurement error model/map based at least in part on measurements associated with one or more location fixes for the mobile station.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the instructions, in response to being executed by the one or more processing units, further direct the one or more processing units to update one or more Maximum Antenna Range (MAR) values of the at least one measurement error model/map based at least in part on measurements associated with one or more location fixes for the mobile station.

30. An article comprising:

a storage medium comprising machine readable instructions stored thereon executable by one or more processing units to;

obtain one or more measurements, from a mobile station, based at least in part on one or more signals received by the mobile station from one or more signal sources;

update estimates of measurement errors associated with at least one of the one or more signal sources based, at least in part, on one or more historical measurements associated with the at least one of the one or more signal sources; and

estimate a location of the mobile station based, at least in part, on the one or more measurements and the updated estimates of measurement errors associated with the at least one of the one or more signal sources.

31. The article of claim 30, wherein at least one of the plurality of signal sources comprises a satellite vehicle (SV) as part of a Satellite Positioning System (SPS), and at least one of the one or more signal sources comprises one or more terrestrial base stations.

32. The article of claim 30, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processing units to process at least one pseudorange measurement to at least one of the one or more signal sources.

33. The article of claim 32, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processing units to update the estimates of the measurement errors with the at least one pseudorange measurement.

34. The article of claim 30, wherein the estimates of measurement errors comprise measurements obtained over a predetermined time interval.

35. The article of claim 30, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processing units to store the estimates of the measurement errors in at least one measurement error model/map.

36. The article of claim 30, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processing units to estimate the location of the mobile station within an asynchronous system.

37. The article of claim 36, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processing units to estimate a timing of the asynchronous system.

38. The article of claim 36, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processing units to estimate a timing uncertainty of the asynchronous system.

39. The article of claim 30, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processing units to filter the one or more measurements.

40. The article of claim 30, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processing units to estimate at least one coverage area associated with the one or more signal sources.

41. The article of claim 30, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processing units to update at least one measurement error model/map with the updated estimates of the measurement errors.

42. The article of claim 41, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processing units to update one or more forward link calibration values of the at least one measurement error model/map based at least in part on measurements associated with one or more location fixes for the mobile station.

43. The article of claim 41, wherein the instructions are further executable by the one or more processing units to update one or more Maximum Antenna Range (MAR) values of the at least one measurement error model/map based at least in part on measurements associated with one or more location fixes for the mobile station.

44. An apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining one or more measurements from a mobile station, wherein the one or more measurements are based at least in part on one or more signals received by the mobile station from one or more signal sources;

means for updating estimates of measurement errors associated with at least one of the one or more signal sources based, at least in part, on one or more historical measurements associated with the at least one of the one or more signal sources; and

means for estimating a location of the mobile station based, at least in part, on the one or more measurements and updated estimates of the measurement errors.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein at least one of the one or more signal sources comprises a satellite vehicle (SV) as part of a Satellite Positioning System (SPS), and at least one of the one or more signal sources comprises one or more terrestrial base stations.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the one or more terrestrial base stations comprise a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 2000 system.

47. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the means for obtaining the one or more measurements is adapted to obtain at least one pseudorange measurement to at least one of the signal sources.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the means for obtaining the one or more measurements is further adapted to update the estimates of the measurement errors with the at least one pseudorange measurement.

49. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the one or more historical measurements comprise measurements obtained over a predetermined time interval.

50. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising a model/map means for storing the one or more historical measurements.

51. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the means for estimating is capable of estimating the location of the mobile station within an asynchronous system.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the means for estimating is capable of estimating a timing of the asynchronous system.

53. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the means for estimating is capable of estimating a timing uncertainty of the asynchronous system.

54. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising a means for filtering the one or more measurements.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the means for filtering provides at least one of bias information or uncertainty/speed.

56. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the means for estimating is capable of estimating at least one coverage area associated with the one or more signal sources.

57. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the means for estimating is capable of updating at least one measurement error model/map with the updated estimates of measurement errors.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the means for estimating is capable of updating one or more forward link calibration values of the at least one measurement error model/map based at least in part on measurements associated with one or more location fixes for the mobile station.

59. A method, comprising:

communicating with a serving signal source providing wireless service to a mobile station within a serving sector; and

acquiring one or more calibration error estimates associated with the serving signal source and one or more other signal sources, based at least in part on an identity of the serving signal source.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising utilizing the one or more calibration error estimates to determine primary ranges from the mobile station to the serving signal source and at least two other signal sources.

61. The method of claim 60, further comprising estimating a location of the mobile station based at least in part on the determined primary ranges.

62. The method of claim 59, further comprising estimating a velocity of the mobile station based at least in part on the calibration error estimates, wherein the calibration error estimates comprise Doppler or delta-range bias or uncertainty information.

63. The method of claim 61, further comprising acquiring one or more location-specific calibration error estimates associated with the estimated location of the mobile station.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising utilizing the one or more location-specific calibration error estimates to determine one or more secondary ranges from the mobile station to the serving signal source and at least two other signal sources.

65. The method of claim 64, further comprising estimating a location of the mobile station based at least in part on the determined secondary ranges.

66. The method of claim 61, further comprising estimating, from a geographical model, an elevation associated with the estimated location.

67. The method of claim 59, wherein the one or more calibration error estimates are based at least in part on a channel utilized by the serving signal source to provide wireless service to the mobile station.

68. The method of claim 59, further comprising acquiring the one or more calibration error estimates from a base station almanac.

69. A mobile station, comprising:

a receiver to receive wireless service from a serving signal source; and

a processing unit to initiate acquisition of one or more calibration error estimates associated with the serving signal source and one or more other signal sources, based at least in part on an identity of the serving signal source.

70. The mobile station of claim 69, wherein the processing unit is capable of estimating primary ranges from the mobile station to the serving signal source and at least two other signal sources based at least in part on the one or more calibration error estimates.

71. The mobile station of claim 70, wherein the processing unit is capable of estimating a location of the mobile station based at least in part on the determined primary ranges.

72. The mobile station of claim 71, wherein the processing unit is capable of initiating acquisition of one or more location-specific calibration error estimates associated with the determined location of the mobile station.

73. The mobile station of claim 72, wherein the processing unit is capable of estimating secondary ranges from the mobile station to the serving signal source and at least two other signal sources based at least in part on the one or more location-specific calibration error estimates.

74. The mobile station of claim 73, wherein the processing unit is capable of determining a location of the mobile station based at least in part on the determined secondary ranges.

75. The mobile station of claim 71, wherein the processing unit is capable of determining, from a geographical model, an elevation associated with the estimated location.

76. The mobile station of claim 69, wherein the one or more calibration error estimates are based at least in part on a frequency utilized by the serving signal source to provide wireless service to the mobile station.

77. The mobile station of claim 69, wherein the processing unit is capable of estimating a velocity of the mobile station based at least in part on the one or more calibration error estimates, wherein the one or more calibration error estimates comprise Doppler or delta-range bias or uncertainty estimates.

78. An apparatus, comprising:

means for communicating with a serving signal source providing wireless service to a mobile station within a service sector; and

means for acquiring one or more calibration error estimates associated with the serving signal source and one or more other signal sources based at least in part on an identity of the serving signal source.

79. The apparatus of claim 78, further comprising means for utilizing the one or more calibration error estimates to determine primary ranges from the mobile station to the serving signal source and at least two other signal sources.

80. The apparatus of claim 79, further comprising means for estimating a location of the mobile station based at least in part on the determined primary ranges.

81. The apparatus of claim 80, further comprising means for acquiring one or more location-specific calibration error estimates associated with the estimated location of the mobile station.

82. The apparatus of claim 81, further comprising means for utilizing the one or more location-specific calibration error estimates to determine secondary ranges from the mobile station to the serving signal source and at least two other signal sources.

83. The apparatus of claim 82, further comprising means for estimating a location of the mobile station based at least in part on the determined secondary ranges.

84. The apparatus of claim 80, further comprising means for estimating, from a geographical model, an elevation associated with the estimated location.

85. The apparatus of claim 78, further comprising means for acquiring the one or more calibration error estimates from a base station almanac.

86. The apparatus of claim 78, further comprising means for estimating a velocity of the mobile station based at least in part on the one or more calibration error estimates, wherein the one or more calibration error estimates comprise Doppler or delta-range bias or uncertainty estimates.

87. An article comprising:

a storage medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a processing unit to;

communicate with a serving signal source providing wireless service to a mobile station within a service sector; and

initiate acquisition of one or more calibration error estimates associated with the serving signal source and one or more other signal sources based at least in part on an identity of the serving signal source.

88. The article of claim 87, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processing unit to utilize the one or more calibration error estimates to determine primary ranges from the mobile station to the serving signal source and at least two other signal sources.

89. The article of claim 88, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processing unit to estimate a location of the mobile station based at least in part on the determined primary ranges.

90. The article of claim 89, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processing unit to initiate acquisition of one or more location-specific calibration error estimates associated with the estimated location of the mobile station.

91. The article of claim 90, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processing unit to utilize the one or more location-specific calibration error estimates to determine secondary ranges from the mobile station to the serving signal source and at least two other signal sources.

92. The article of claim 91, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processing unit to estimate a location of the mobile station based at least in part on the determined secondary ranges.

93. The article of claim 89, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processing unit to estimate, from a geographical model, an elevation associated with the estimated location.

94. The article of claim 87, wherein the one or more calibration error estimates are based at least in part on a channel utilized by the serving signal source to provide wireless service to the mobile station.

95. The article of claim 87, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processing unit to initiate acquisition of the one or more calibration error estimates from a base station almanac.

96. The article of claim 87, wherein the wherein the instructions are further executable by the processing unit to estimate a velocity of the mobile station based at least in part on the one or more calibration error estimates, wherein the one or more calibration error estimates comprise Doppler or delta-range bias or uncertainty estimates.