DATABASE UPDATE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOCATING A pCell

• US 20130028248A1
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SK Planet Co., Ltd. (SK Telecom Co., Ltd.), SK Telecom Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: SK Planet Co., Ltd. (SK Telecom Co., Ltd.), SK Telecom Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Cho, Chae Hwan
• Granted Patent: US 9,348,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/725 Marker, boundary, call-sign or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0249 Determining position using measurements made by a non-stationary device other than the device whose position is being determined
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a database update method and apparatus for locating a pCell. An embodiment of the present invention provides a database update apparatus for locating a pCell, comprising: a database storing grid cells that are sorted by pCell ID; a DB collection unit collecting log data for a WLAN signal from a mobile communication terminal which performs communication using the WLAN signal; an information extraction unit extracting a WLAN parameter from the log data of the WLAN signal; and a DB update unit updating the grid cells by matching and storing the information based on the extracted WLAN parameter in the corresponding grid cell. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the data-based information for AP locations and its application to the determination of a location can enhance the location performance.

Claims

1. A database update apparatus for pCell location determination, the apparatus comprising:

a database configured to store grid cells that are divided by pCell ID;

a DB collection unit configured to collect log data of WLAN signals from a mobile communication terminal which performs a communication using the WLAN signals;

an information extraction unit configured to extract WLAN parameters from the log data of the WLAN signals; and

a DB update unit configured to update the grid cells by matching information based on the extracted WLAN parameters with the grid cells.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the DB collection unit is further configured to collect log data of GPS signals when the mobile communication terminal performs a communication using the GPS signals, and in case of success in location determination for the GPS signals, to collect, for a certain period, the log data of the WLAN signals received at the same time as the GPS signals received at time of success in location determination.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the DB collection unit is further configured to, when location determination succeeds for the GPS signals, pick out, as reliable data, only data in case where the number of satellites detected for location determination equals to or greater than a specific number, and then to collect the log data of the WLAN signals received at the same time as the reliable data are received.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the DB update unit is further configured to match the WLAN parameters, as identifiers for identifying the pre-stored grid cells, with each grid cell.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the DB update unit is further configured to, when updating the grid cells by using the WLAN parameters, use at least one of latitude information, longitude information and altitude information about AP (Access Point) which sends and receives the WLAN signals to and from the mobile communication terminal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the DB collection unit is further configured to, if the mobile communication terminal supports SUPL (Secure User Plane Location), communicate with the mobile communication terminal by using the SUPL in order to collect at least one of the WLAN signals.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the DB collection unit is further configured to, if the mobile communication terminal performs a short-range communication including at least one of Zigbee, UWB, Bluetooth and RFID, collect log data of short-range communication signals from the mobile communication terminal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the DB collection unit is further configured to collect the log data of each WLAN signal for a certain period or according to certain counts.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the WLAN signals include at least one of Wi-Fi signals, WiMax signals, DTIM (Delivery Traffic Indication Message), and hot spot signals.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the WLAN parameters include identification information about AP which sends and receives the WLAN signals to and from the mobile communication terminal, MAC address information, received signal strength information, frequency information, latitude information, longitude information, and altitude information.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grid cells are cells into which a specific area is divided with a predetermined size, and have pCell ID based on PSC (Primary Scrambling Code) and a base station sector number (Reference PN) for a base station located in the area.

12. A database update method for pCell location determination, the method comprising steps of:

collecting log data of each of WLAN signals from a mobile communication terminal which performs a communication using the WLAN signals;

extracting WLAN parameters from the log data of the WLAN signals; and

updating the grid cells by matching information based on the extracted WLAN parameters with the grid cells pre-stored in database.