METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING OF DEVICES IN A WIRELESS NETWORK

• US 20120015654A1
• Filed: 01/06/2011
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Palanki, Ravi, Tenny, Nathan Edward, Agashe, Parag Arun
• Granted Patent: US 8,750,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• 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

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided that facilitate allowing position determination of devices in wireless networks with home evolved Node Bs (HeNB). An HeNB can determine its location based at least in part on positioning measurements from one or more devices. The HeNB can additionally or alternatively register its location or other location parameters with a positioning server for subsequent provisioning as assistance information for determining a device position. Moreover, a device can request assistance information related to a different base station where the HeNB is not registered with the positioning server.

Claims

1. A method for determining a location for a home evolved Node B (HeNB), comprising:

receiving one or more positioning measurements measured by one or more devices in a wireless network in which a HeNB communicates; and

determining a location of the HeNB based at least in part on the one or more positioning measurements.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more devices includes a network listening module co-located at the HeNB.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving assistance information over a backhaul link, wherein the determining the location is further based at least in part on the assistance information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more devices includes a mobile device in coverage.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the one or more positioning measurements to a positioning server as one or more positioning parameters for allowing subsequent positioning determination.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting one or more parameters regarding the location to a positioning server.

7. An apparatus for determining a home evolved Node B (HeNB) location, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive one or more positioning measurements measured by one or more devices in a wireless network in which a HeNB communicates; and

determine a location of the HeNB based at least in part on the one or more positioning measurements; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least one of the one or more devices is a network listening module co-located at the HeNB.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive assistance information over a backhaul link, and the at least one processor determines the location based at least in part on the assistance information.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more devices includes a mobile device in a coverage area of the apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit the one or more positioning measurements to a positioning server as one or more positioning parameters for allowing subsequent positioning determination.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit one or more parameters regarding the location to a positioning server.

13. An apparatus for determining a location for a home evolved Node B (HeNB), comprising:

means for receiving one or more positioning measurements measured by one or more devices in a wireless network in which a HeNB communicates; and

means for determining a location of the HeNB based at least in part on the one or more positioning measurements.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for receiving downlink signals from one or more base stations, wherein at least one of the one or more devices is the means for receiving downlink signals co-located with the HeNB.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for determining further receives assistance information over a backhaul link, and determines the location further based at least in part on the assistance information.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more devices includes a mobile device in coverage.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for transmitting the one or more positioning measurements to a positioning server as one or more positioning parameters for allowing subsequent positioning determination.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for transmitting one or more parameters regarding the location to a positioning server.

19. A computer program product for determining a location for a home evolved Node B (HeNB), comprising:

a computer-readable medium, comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to receive one or more positioning measurements measured by one or more devices in a wireless network in which a HeNB communicates; and

code for causing the at least one computer to determine a location of the HeNB based at least in part on the one or more positioning measurements.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein at least one of the one or more devices is a network listening module co-located with the HeNB.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to receive assistance information over a backhaul link, and the code for causing the at least one computer to determine determines the location based at least in part on the assistance information.

22. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the one or more devices includes a mobile device in a coverage area.

23. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to transmit the one or more positioning measurements to a positioning server as one or more positioning parameters for allowing subsequent positioning determination.

24. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to transmit one or more parameters regarding the location to a positioning server.

25. An apparatus for determining a location for a home evolved Node B (HeNB), comprising:

a positioning measurement receiving component for obtaining one or more positioning measurements measured by one or more devices in a wireless network in which a HeNB communicates; and

a location determining component for computing a location of the HeNB based at least in part on the one or more positioning measurements.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a network listening module for receiving downlink signals from one or more base stations, wherein at least one of the one or more devices is the network listening module co-located with the HeNB.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the location determining component further receives assistance information over a backhaul link, and determines the location further based at least in part on the assistance information.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the one or more devices includes a mobile device in coverage.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a location registering component for transmitting the one or more positioning measurements to a positioning server as one or more positioning parameters for allowing subsequent positioning determination.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a location registering component for transmitting one or more parameters regarding the location to a positioning server.

31. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

determining a different base station from a serving home evolved Node B (HeNB) for utilizing assistance information in determining a position; and

receiving assistance information related to the different base station from the serving HeNB or a positioning server.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising detecting the different base station at least in part by detecting a signal from the different base station.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising determining the different base station is a previously visited base station.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising receiving an indication of the different base station from the HeNB.

35. An apparatus for requesting assistance information in determining positioning, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

determine a different base station from a serving home evolved Node B (HeNB) for utilizing assistance information in determining a position; and

obtain assistance information related to the different base station from the serving HeNB or a positioning server; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive a signal of the different base station.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine the different base station is a previously visited base station.

38. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive an indication of the different base station from the HeNB.

39. An apparatus for requesting assistance information for determining positioning, comprising:

means for determining a different base station from a serving home evolved Node B (HeNB) for utilizing assistance information in determining a position; and

means for receiving assistance information related to the different base station from the serving HeNB or a positioning server.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the means for determining detects the different base station based at least in part on one or more signals received from the different base station.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the means for determining determines the different base station as a previously visited base station.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the means for determining further receives an indication of the different base station from the HeNB.

43. A computer program product for requesting assistance information for determining a position, comprising:

a computer-readable medium, comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to determine a different base station from a serving home evolved Node B (HeNB) for utilizing assistance information in determining a position; and

code for causing the at least one computer to obtain assistance information related to the different base station from the serving HeNB or a positioning server.

44. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to receive a signal of the different base station.

45. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to determine the different base station is a previously visited base station.

46. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to receive an indication of the different base station from the HeNB.

47. An apparatus for requesting assistance information for determining positioning, comprising:

a neighboring cell information receiving component for determining a different base station from a serving home evolved Node B (HeNB) for utilizing assistance information in determining a position; and

an assistance information receiving component for receiving assistance information related to the different base station from the serving HeNB or a positioning server.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the neighboring cell information receiving component detects the different base station based at least in part on one or more signals received from the different base station.

49. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the neighboring cell information receiving component determines the different base station as a previously visited base station.

50. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the neighboring cell information receiving component obtains an indication of the different base station from the HeNB.

51. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving one or more parameters related to a location; and

registering a global cell identifier and the one or more parameters with a positioning server over a backhaul link.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising determining a macrocell identifier of at least one neighboring base station, wherein the registering the one or more parameters includes registering the macrocell identifier.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the determining the macrocell identifier includes receiving the macrocell identifier in a measurement report from a device.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein the registering the one or more parameters includes registering a geographic area received from a core network component.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the geographic area is a zip code, a county, a city, a state, or a country.

56. The method of claim 51, wherein the receiving the one or more parameters includes receiving a positioning error, a transmission power, or a cell size.

57. The method of claim 51, wherein the receiving the one or more parameters includes receiving a point-of-interest.

58. The method of claim 51, wherein the receiving the one or more parameters includes receiving one or more determined positions from one or more devices.

59. An apparatus for registering with a positioning server, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

determine one or more parameters related to a location; and

register a global cell identifier and the one or more parameters with a positioning server over a backhaul link; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a macrocell identifier of at least one neighboring base station, and the one or more parameters includes the macrocell identifier.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive the macrocell identifier in a measurement report from a device.

62. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the at least one processor determines the one or more parameters based at least in part on receiving a geographic area from a core network component.

63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the geographic area is a zip code, a county, a city, a state, or a country.

64. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the one or more parameters relate to a positioning error, a transmission power, or a cell size.

65. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the one or more parameters relate to a point-of-interest.

66. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the one or more parameters relate to a determined position received from a device.

67. An apparatus for registering with a positioning server, comprising:

means for receiving one or more parameters related to a location; and

means for registering a global cell identifier and the one or more parameters with a positioning server over a backhaul link.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising means for determining a macrocell identifier of at least one neighboring base station, wherein the one or more parameters includes the macrocell identifier.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the means for determining the macrocell identifier receives the macrocell identifier in a measurement report from a device.

70. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising means for receiving a geographic area from a core network component, and the one or more parameters relate to the geographic area.

71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the geographic area is a zip code, a county, a city, a state, or a country.

72. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the one or more parameters relate to a positioning error, a transmission power, or a cell size.

73. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the one or more parameters relate to a point-of-interest.

74. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the one or more parameters relate to a position determined by a device.

75. A computer program product for registering with a positioning server, comprising:

a computer-readable medium, comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to determine one or more parameters related to a location; and

code for causing the at least one computer to register a global cell identifier and the one or more parameters with a positioning server over a backhaul link.

76. The computer program product of claim 75, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to determine a macrocell identifier of at least one neighboring base station, and the one or more parameters includes the macrocell identifier.

77. The computer program product of claim 76, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to receive the macrocell identifier in a measurement report from a device.

78. The computer program product of claim 75, wherein the code for causing the at least one computer to determine determines the one or more parameters based at least in part on receiving a geographic area from a core network component.

79. The computer program product of claim 78, wherein the geographic area is a zip code, a county, a city, a state, or a country.

80. The computer program product of claim 75, wherein the one or more parameters relate to a positioning error, a transmission power, or a cell size.

81. The computer program product of claim 75, wherein the one or more parameters relate to a point-of-interest.

82. The computer program product of claim 75, wherein the one or more parameters relate to one or more positions related to one or more devices.

83. An apparatus for registering with a positioning server, comprising:

a location determining component for receiving one or more parameters related to a location; and

a location registering component for registering a global cell identifier and the one or more parameters with a positioning server over a backhaul link.

84. The apparatus of claim 83, further comprising a network listening module (NLM) component for determining a macrocell identifier of at least one neighboring base station, wherein the one or more parameters includes the macrocell identifier.

85. The apparatus of claim 84, wherein the NLM component receives the macrocell identifier in a measurement report from a device.

86. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein the location determining component receives a geographic area from a core network component, and the one or more parameters relate to the geographic area.

87. The apparatus of claim 86, wherein the geographic area is a zip code, a county, a city, a state, or a country.

88. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein the one or more parameters relate to a positioning error, a transmission power, or a cell size.

89. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein the one or more parameters relate to a point-of-interest.

90. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein the one or more parameters comprise a position determined by a device.