SENSOR-ASSISTED LOCATION-AWARE MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20110199259A1
• Filed: 03/26/2010
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Garrett, David, Abraham, Charles, Lundgren, David Albert, Murray, David, Karaoguz, Jeyhan, Buer, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,823,585 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.28
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system

Abstract

A GNSS enabled mobile device moves from a first area where GNSS signal quality and/or level is above a threshold to a second area where GNSS signal quality and/or level is below the threshold. The GNSS enabled mobile device in the second area determines its own location utilizing previous GNSS measurements in the first area. GNSS signals are received to calculate GNSS measurements whenever the GNSS enabled mobile device is in the first area. The calculated GNSS measurements are utilized to determine a location of the GNSS enabled mobile device within the first area. The GNSS enabled mobile device in the second area utilizes the most current GNSS measurements in the first area to determine its own location. Sensors such as an image sensor, a light sensor, an audio sensor and/or a location sensor are used to refine the location of the GNSS enabled mobile device in the second area.

Claims

1. A method for communication, the method comprising:

performing by one or more processors and/or circuits in a Global navigation satellite-based systems (GNSS) enabled mobile device;

if said GNSS enabled mobile device has moved from a first area where GNSS signal quality and/or level is above a particular threshold value to a second area where said GNSS signal quality and/or level is below said particular threshold value, determining a location of said GNSS enabled mobile device in said second area based on location-aware sensor environment in said second area and previous GNSS measurements calculated by said GNSS enabled mobile device when said GNSS enabled mobile device was in said first area.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving GNSS signals from a plurality of visible GNSS satellites whenever said GNSS enabled mobile device is in said first area.

3. The method according to claim 2, comprising calculating GNSS measurements utilizing said GNSS signals received in said first area.

4. The method according to claim 3, comprising determining a location of said GNSS enabled mobile device within said first area utilizing said calculated GNSS measurements.

5. The method according to claim 3, comprising updating said previous GNSS measurements utilizing said calculated GNSS measurements.

6. The method according to claim 5, comprising determining said location of said GNSS enabled mobile device within said second area utilizing said updated previous GNSS measurements in said first area.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising collecting, in said second area, sensor data from one or more sensors for encountered sensor targets with known locations within said location-aware sensor environment in said second area.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said one or more sensors comprise an image sensor, a light sensor, an audio sensor and/or a location sensor.

9. The method according to claim 7, comprising converting said collected sensor data to corresponding locations of said encountered sensor targets.

10. The method according to claim 9, comprising refining said determined location of said GNSS enabled mobile device in said second area utilizing said locations of said encountered sensor targets.

15. The system according to claim 3, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to update said previous GNSS measurements utilizing said calculated GNSS measurements.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to determine said location of said GNSS enabled mobile device within said second area utilizing said updated previous GNSS measurements in said first area.

11. A system for communication, the system comprising:

one or more processors and/or circuits for use in a Global navigation satellite-based systems (GNSS) enabled mobile device, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to;

if said GNSS enabled mobile device has moved from a first area where GNSS signal quality and/or level is above a particular threshold value to a second area where said GNSS signal quality and/or level is below said particular threshold value, determine a location of said GNSS enabled mobile device in said second area based on location-aware sensor environment in said second area and previous GNSS measurements calculated by said GNSS enabled mobile device when said GNSS enabled mobile device was in said first area.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to receive GNSS signals from a plurality of visible GNSS satellites whenever said GNSS enabled mobile device is in said first area.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to calculate GNSS measurements utilizing said GNSS signals received in said first area.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to determine a location of said GNSS enabled mobile device within said first area utilizing said calculated GNSS measurements.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to collecting, in said second area, sensor data from one or more sensors for encountered sensor targets with known locations within said location-aware sensor environment in said second area.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said one or more sensors comprise an image sensor, a light sensor, an audio sensor and/or a location sensor.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to convert said collected sensor data to corresponding locations of said encountered sensor targets.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to refine said determined location of said GNSS enabled mobile device in said second area utilizing said locations of said encountered sensor targets.