Systems and Methods for Determining Geographic Location of a Mobile Device

• US 20120229340A1
• Filed: 05/23/2012
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Henry, Paul, Rice, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 9,519,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/451
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/25 involving aiding data received from a cooperating element, e.g. assisted GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/49 whereby the further system is an inertial position system, e.g. loosely-coupled

Abstract

A method for determining geolocation of a mobile device, and a system for performing the method. The mobile device includes a location component, a local positioning component, and a reference positioning component. The method includes determining a local-positioning period based on an identified factor, and obtaining a location fix for the device from the reference positioning component. The method further includes commencing the period and measuring movement using the location component. The method also includes determining a present location of the device, using the location component, based on the location fix and the movement data and, during the period, repeating the measuring and determining steps. The method further includes, after the period expires, updating the location fix with a new location fix from the reference positioning component, resetting the local-positioning period; and repeating the steps for determining location during the reset period using the new location fix.

Claims

1. A method, for assisting a mobile device to determine a geographic location of the mobile device, comprising:

generating, by a service provider system comprising at least one processor, a message including an instruction selected from a group of instructions consisting of (I) a local-positioning period and (II) a certain level of locating accuracy, wherein;

the generating comprises considering a condition, of a communications network used by the mobile device, including a demand on a component of the communications network;

the local-positioning period is for controlling an amount of time that the mobile device (A) determines the geographic location using (i) a previous location fix obtained using a reference positioning component of the mobile device and (ii) a local positioning component of the mobile device before (B) obtaining a new location fix using the reference positioning component; and

the certain level of accuracy is for use by the mobile device to determine the local-positioning period; and

transmitting, by the service provider system, the message to the mobile device for use by the mobile device to determine the geographic location using the local positioning component and the reference component according to the instruction having (I) the local-positioning period or (II) the certain level of accuracy from which the mobile device will determine the local-positioning period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the component of the communications network includes a network-based position server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

in cases in which the instruction is to include the local-positioning period, generating the message results in a higher local-positioning period when the demand is higher and a lower local-positioning period when the demand is lower; and

in cases in which the instruction is to include the certain level of locating accuracy, generating the message results in a lower level of accuracy when the demand is higher and a higher level of accuracy when the demand is lower.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the instruction includes comparing the demand to a threshold level.

5. A method, for assisting a mobile device to determine a geographic location of the mobile device, comprising:

generating, by a service provider system comprising at least one processor, a message including an instruction selected from a group of instructions consisting of (I) a local-positioning period and (II) a certain level of locating accuracy, wherein;

the generating comprises considering a condition selected from a group of conditions consisting of;

a time condition; and

a geographic condition;

the local-positioning period is for controlling an amount of time that the mobile device (A) determines the geographic location using (i) a previous location fix obtained using a reference positioning component of the mobile device and (ii) a local positioning component of the mobile device before (B) obtaining a new location fix using the reference positioning component; and

the certain level of accuracy is for use by the mobile device to determine the local-positioning period; and

transmitting, by the service provider system, the message to the mobile device for use by the mobile device to determine the geographic location using the local positioning component and the reference component according to the instruction having (I) the local-positioning period or (II) the certain level of accuracy from which the mobile device will determine the local-positioning period.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the time condition relates to a time of day.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the time condition depends on whether an applicable time is during a daytime or during a nighttime.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the time condition relates to a time of week.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the time condition depends on whether an applicable time is on weekday or during a weekend.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the geographic condition depends on a type of area in which the mobile device is present.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the type of area is selected from a group of area types consisting of rural and urban.

12. A method, for assisting a mobile device to determine a geographic location of the mobile device, comprising:

generating, by a service provider system having at least one processor, a message including an instruction selected from a group of instructions consisting of (I) a local-positioning period and (II) a certain level of locating accuracy, wherein;

the generating comprises considering a condition selected from a group of conditions, associated with the mobile device or a user of the mobile device, consisting of;

a level of service paid for by a user of the mobile device;

a type of the mobile device; and

an amount of time that the user has been a subscriber to the communication services of the provider;

the local-positioning period is for controlling an amount of time that the mobile device (A) determines the geographic location using (i) a previous location fix obtained using a reference positioning component of the mobile device and (ii) a local positioning component of the mobile device before (B) obtaining a new location fix using the reference positioning component; and

the certain level of accuracy is for use by the mobile device to determine the local-positioning period; and

transmitting, by the service provider system, the message to the mobile device for use by the mobile device to determine the geographic location using the local positioning component and the reference component according to the instruction having (I) the local-positioning period or (II) the certain level of accuracy from which the mobile device will determine the local-positioning period.