Enhanced Positioning Assistance Data For Reduced Signaling

• US 20110039576A1
• Filed: 08/11/2010
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Agashe, Parag A., Tenny, Nathan E., Prakash, Rajat, Edge, Stephen W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,838,132 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/03 Cooperating elements; Interaction or communication between different cooperating elements or between cooperating elements and receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0236 Assistance data, e.g. base station almanac
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for determining a location estimate of a mobile device based on an extended set of assistance data are presented. The extended assistance data includes assistance data for base stations, such as cellular base stations and access points, not expected to be viewable by the mobile device in a (current) first geographical area but expected to be viewable by the mobile device in a (future) second geographical area. By seeding the mobile device with assistance data expected to be useful in the future, the network reduces messaging between the network and mobile device and battery consumption by the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for determining a location estimate of a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving extended assistance data, while in a first geographical area, wherein the extended assistance data comprises assistance data applicable in a second geographical area and inapplicable in the first geographical area;

saving the extended assistance data to memory;

moving from the first geographical area to the second geographical area;

obtaining location information, while in the second geographical area, using the assistance data applicable in the second geographical area; and

providing the location information to determine the location estimate of the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second geographical area is based on a prediction of a future location of the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second geographical area is based on a sequence of past locations.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second geographical area is based on an estimated trajectory of the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second geographical area is based on a route of the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second geographical area is based on a destination of the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second geographical area is based on a network configuration.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising requesting assistance data from the network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the act of requesting assistance data from the network comprises providing, from the mobile device to the network, routing information of the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the extended assistance data further comprises assistance data applicable in the first geographical area.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising obtaining location information in the first geographical area using the assistance data applicable in the first geographical area.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving a plurality of signals using the extended assistance data for estimating the location estimate within the first geographical area.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a plurality of signals using the extended assistance data for estimating the location estimate within the second geographical area.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the location information comprises determining, by the mobile device, the location estimate in the second geographical area.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the location information comprises assisting a network to determine the location estimate by sending the location information to the network.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein location information comprises signal measurements from the second geographical area.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting the signal measurements to a network for determining a location estimate in the second geographical area.

18. A mobile device for determining a location estimate of the mobile device, the mobile device comprising a base station receiver, a base station transmitter, a processor and memory comprising code to:

receive extended assistance data, while in a first geographical area, wherein the extended assistance data comprises assistance data applicable in a second geographical area and inapplicable in the first geographical area;

save the extended assistance data to memory;

obtain location information, while in the second geographical area, using the assistance data applicable in the second geographical area; and

provide the location information to determine the location estimate of the mobile device.

19. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the second geographical area is based on at least one of:

a prediction of a future location of the mobile device;

a sequence of past locations;

an estimated trajectory of the mobile device;

a route of the mobile device; and

a destination of the mobile device.

20. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the extended assistance data further comprises assistance data applicable in the first geographical area.

21. The mobile device of claim 18, further comprising code to receive a plurality of signals using the extended assistance data for estimating the location estimate within the second geographical area.

22. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the code to provide the location information comprises code to determine, by the mobile device, the location estimate in the second geographical area.

23. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the code to provide the location information comprises code to assist a network to determine the location estimate by sending the location information to the network.

24. A mobile device for determining a location estimate of the mobile device, the mobile device comprising:

means for receiving extended assistance data, while in a first geographical area, wherein the extended assistance data comprises assistance data applicable in a second geographical area and inapplicable in the first geographical area;

means for saving the extended assistance data to memory;

means for obtaining location information, while in the second geographical area, using the assistance data applicable in the second geographical area; and

means for providing the location information to determine the location estimate of the mobile device.

25. A mobile device for determining a location estimate of the mobile device, the mobile device comprising a processor and memory comprising instructions to:

receive extended assistance data, while in a first geographical area, wherein the extended assistance data comprises assistance data applicable in a second geographical area and inapplicable in the first geographical area;

save the extended assistance data to memory;

obtain location information, while in the second geographical area, using the assistance data applicable in the second geographical area; and

provide the location information to determine the location estimate of the mobile device.

26. A computer-readable storage medium comprising program code stored thereon for a mobile device for determining a location estimate of the mobile device, the program code including program code to:

receive extended assistance data, while in a first geographical area, wherein the extended assistance data comprises assistance data applicable in a second geographical area and inapplicable in the first geographical area;

save the extended assistance data to memory;

obtain location information, while in the second geographical area, using the assistance data applicable in the second geographical area; and

provide the location information to determine the location estimate of the mobile device.

27. A method of preparing extended assistance data, by a network, for a mobile device in a first geographical area, the method comprising:

determining base stations to identify thereby defining a second geographical area;

preparing the extended assistance data, wherein the extended assistance data comprises assistance data applicable in the second geographical area and known inapplicable in the first geographical area; and

sending the extended assistance data to the mobile device while the mobile device is in a first geographical area.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising receiving an assistance data request from the mobile device in the first geographical area.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the act of determining the base stations to identify is triggered by the act of receiving the assistance data request from the mobile device in the first geographical area.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the act of determining the base stations to identify comprises triggering, by the network, the act determining the base stations.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the act of triggering is based on at least one network parameter.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the at least one network parameter is based on at least one of:

(a) a parameter received from the mobile device;

(b) a number of position transactions occurring during a past period;

(c) a sequence of prior location estimates made by the network;

(d) deployment information provided as part of network configuration; and

(e) a profile of the mobile device.

33. A network entity for preparing extended assistance data for a mobile device in a first geographical area, the network entity comprising:

means for determining base stations to identify thereby defining a second geographical area;

means for preparing the extended assistance data, wherein the extended assistance data comprises assistance data applicable in the second geographical area and known inapplicable in the first geographical area; and

means for sending the extended assistance data to the mobile device while the mobile device is in a first geographical area.

34. A network entity for preparing extended assistance data for a mobile device in a first geographical area, the network entity comprising a processor and memory comprising code to:

determine base stations to identify, for the mobile device in a first geographical area, thereby defining a second geographical area;

prepare the extended assistance data, wherein the extended assistance data comprises assistance data applicable in the second geographical area and known inapplicable in the first geographical area; and

send the extended assistance data to the mobile device while the mobile device is in a first geographical area.

35. A computer-readable storage medium comprising program code stored thereon for a network entity for determining a location estimate of a mobile device, the program code including code to:

determine base stations to identify, for the mobile device in a first geographical area, thereby defining a second geographical area;

prepare the extended assistance data, wherein the extended assistance data comprises assistance data applicable in the second geographical area and known inapplicable in the first geographical area; and

send the extended assistance data to the mobile device while the mobile device is in a first geographical area.