METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR USING MOBILE DEVICES AS LOCATION ANCHOR POINTS

• US 20120058733A1
• Filed: 09/03/2010
• Published: 03/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Jovicic, Aleksandar, Richardson, Thomas, Measson, Cyril
• Granted Patent: US 10,506,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• 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 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

Mobile devices are used as temporary location anchor points, e.g., to supplement fixed location permanent location anchor points, in a wireless communications system in which mobile device locations are determined. A mobile device receives a command or request to operate as a location anchor point. In some embodiments, the command includes time information indicating the amount of time the mobile device is to operate as a location anchor point. In some embodiments, a mobile device operating as a location anchor point reports a received signal strength measurement along with information identifying the device from which the signal was received to a network element, e.g., a location server node. In some embodiments, a mobile device operating as a location anchor point broadcasts a signal providing location information. The mobile device receives compensation for operating as a location anchor point. Compensation may be monetary, services, or benefits provided by the network.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile device at a known location, the method comprising:

receiving a command instructing the mobile device to operate as a location anchor point; and

in response to receiving said command, operating as a location anchor point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein operating as a location anchor point includes performing at least one of:

i) reporting a received signal strength along with information identifying a device from which the signal was received to a network element; and

ii) broadcasting a signal providing location information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said command includes time information indicating an amount of time the mobile device is to operate as a location anchor point.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving compensation for acting as a location anchor point.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein receiving compensation for acting as a location anchor point include receiving information indicating a grant of an increase in a QoS level being provided said mobile device.

6. A mobile device comprising:

means for receiving a command instructing the mobile device to operate as a location anchor point; and

means for operating as a location anchor point, in response to receiving said command.

7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein said means for operating as a location anchor point includes means for performing at least one of:

i) means for reporting a received signal strength along with information identifying a device from which the signal was received to a network element; and

ii) means for broadcasting a signal providing location information.

8. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein said command includes time information indicating an amount of time the mobile device is to operate as a location anchor point.

9. The mobile device of claim 7, further comprising:

means for receiving compensation for acting as a location anchor point.

10. The mobile device of claim 9 wherein said means for receiving compensation for acting as a location anchor point includes means for receiving information indicating a grant of an increase in a QoS level being provided said mobile device.

11. A computer program product for use in a mobile device, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to receive a command instructing the mobile device to operate as a location anchor point; and

code for causing said at least one computer to control said mobile device to operate as a location anchor point in response to receiving said command.

12. A mobile device comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive a command instructing the mobile device to operate as a location anchor point; and

control said mobile device to operate as a location anchor point in response to receiving said command; and

memory coupled to said at least one processor.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein said at least one processor is configured to perform at least one of:

i) reporting a received signal strength along with information identifying a device from which the signal was received to a network element; and

ii) broadcasting a signal providing location information, as part of being configured to control said mobile device to operate as a location anchor point.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein said command includes time information indicating an amount of time the mobile device is to operate as a location anchor point.

15. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to:

receive compensation for acting as a location anchor point.

16. A method of operating a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving a set of locations at which the mobile device may operate as a location anchor point;

determining a current location of the mobile device;

determining if said current location of the mobile device is in a neighborhood of at least one of the locations in the received set of locations; and

operating as a location anchor point while said mobile device is in the neighborhood of at least one of the locations in the received set of locations.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

determining that the current location of the mobile device has changed to a location which is outside said neighborhood; and

ceasing to operate as a location anchor point in response to said determination that the current location of the mobile device has changed to a location which is outside said neighborhood.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein operating as a location anchor point includes performing at least one of:

i) reporting a received signal strength along with information identifying a device from which the signal was received to a network element; and

ii) broadcasting a signal providing location information.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving compensation for acting as a location anchor point.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein receiving compensation for acting as a location anchor point include receiving information indicating a grant of an increase in a QoS level being provided said mobile device.

21. A mobile device comprising:

means for receiving a set of locations at which the mobile device may operate as a location anchor point;

means for determining a current location of the mobile device;

determining if said current location of the mobile device is in a neighborhood of at least one of the locations in the received set of locations; and

means for operating as a location anchor point while said mobile device is in the neighborhood of at least one of the locations in the received set of locations.

22. The mobile device of claim 21 further comprising:

means for determining if the current location of the mobile device has changed to a location which is outside said neighborhood; and

means for controlling said mobile device to cease operating as a location anchor point in response to determining that the current location of the mobile device is a location which is outside said neighborhood.

23. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein said means for operating as a location anchor point includes means for performing at least one of:

i) means for reporting a received signal strength along with information identifying a device from which the signal was received to a network element; and

ii) means for broadcasting a signal providing location information.

24. The mobile device of claim 21, further comprising:

means for receiving compensation for acting as a location anchor point.

25. The mobile device of claim 21 wherein said means for receiving compensation for acting as a location anchor point includes means for receiving information indicating a grant of an increase in a QoS level being provided said mobile device.

26. A computer program product for use in a mobile device, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to receive a set of locations at which the mobile device may operate as a location anchor point;

code for causing said at least one computer to determine a current location of the mobile device;

code for causing said at least one computer to determine if said current location of the mobile device is in a neighborhood of at least one of the locations in the received set of locations; and

code for causing said at least one computer to operate as a location anchor point while said mobile device is in the neighborhood of at least one of the locations in the received set of locations.

27. A mobile device comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive a set of locations at which the mobile device may operate as a location anchor point;

determine a current location of the mobile device;

determine if said current location of the mobile device is in a neighborhood of at least one of the locations in the received set of locations; and

operate as a location anchor point while said mobile device is in the neighborhood of at least one of the locations in the received set of locations; and

memory coupled to said at least one processor.

28. The mobile device of claim 27 wherein said at least one processor is further configured to:

determine if the current location of the mobile device has changed to a location which is outside said neighborhood; and

cease to operate as a location anchor point in response a determination that the current location of the mobile device has changed to a location which is outside said neighborhood.

29. The mobile device of claim 27, wherein said at least one processor is configured to perform at least one of:

i) report a received signal strength along with information identifying a device from which the signal was received to a network element; and

ii) broadcast a signal providing location information, as part of being configured to operate as a location anchor point.

30. The mobile device of claim 27, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to:

receive compensation for acting as a location anchor point.